Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
Matthew 25:1-13 (NRSV)
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Reflect
Many of the parables that Jesus told during his public ministry are hard to understand. In fact, I can’t really claim to understand quite a few of them. Whatever else may be said about the parable of the “Ten Virgins (or Bridesmaids),” it is a teaching about the importance of vigilance in light of the Lord’s coming.
The early Christians believed that Jesus Christ would return very soon—even in their lifetimes. There are many Christians in every generation who share a belief in the “imminent return” of Jesus. But regardless of whether Jesus comes in the flesh again to earth in our lifetimes, we can be sure that Jesus “returns” often, even daily, to our lives.
We can “see” Jesus in just about every moment of our lives if we are looking for him. He has ways of showing up in other people, in their needs, in their joys and sorrows, in their words to us. But are we watching for him? That’s the big question.
Pray
Jesus, teach us to keep our eyes open for the ways in which you return daily to our lives. Amen.
Go with God.
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