In the first reading God gives us some specific instructions for greater progress in pleasing him. Our life also should be linked with an imitation of the life of Christ. To be serious in this quest for holiness, Jesus presents us with the parable of the ten virgins in today's Gospel. We may understand the ten virgins to represent humanity in our attitude to God. We may take the lamp to represent faith given as a gift by God, and the oil as the love that has to be poured into it so that the flame of faith be kept burning. The five wise virgins represent those whose faith is inflamed by love of God and neighbour. They recognized that the oil of love is essential in order to continue believing in God. The foolish ones had faith but it became weaker and weaker because it was not fed by the oil of love. Christians who believe in God without loving him and his children, and not expressing that love in prayer, works of mercy, care and compassion cannot sustain their faith for a long time.