Keep Watch

 Matthew 25: 1-13

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

We need this reminder to keep watching and praying, even if the answer we seek remains hidden.  St. Monica, whose Memorial we observe today, prayed for 17 years for the conversion of her now famous son, St. Augustine.  Where would the church be if she had stopped after the first year? Jesus urges us to keep watching and praying, for we do not know the day nor the hour...We believe that he answers our prayers, but we do not know when. From this parable and from St. Monica's life,, we learn that it is best to not to stop, but to persevere. St. Monica, help those who have strayed to find their way home.  Encourage us who pray for them to remain faithful and trusting that in God's good time, our prayers will be answered as were yours.

Bro. Rene