Certainly, when it is said that the kingdom of heaven is like to the ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom the meaning is that all of them entered upon the same path of life, for this is signified by the letter 'I.' They went forth all equally pledged to the same life, and this is why they are said to be ten, for they chose the same purpose. But they did not all go forth to meet the bridegroom in the same way: some had provided themselves with abundant fuel, enough even for the repeated replenishing of their oil lamps; the others had been careless, thinking only for the present.
And so they are divided equally, five and five: that is to say, the first group kept their five senses, which are generally called the portals of wisdom, virginally pure of sin; the second group, on the contrary, mingling their senses with wickedness, dishonored them with innumerable sins.
They practiced their abstinence and sobriety by keeping away from justice, and only reaped a greater harvest of transgressions; and hence, of course, it happened that they were locked out and excluded from the divine precincts. For whether we act virtuously or commit sin, it is through these our senses that our deeds, both good and evil, are strengthened.
St. Methodius (+884)
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