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.
Day by day we spend the hours in a basic routine from breakfast to supper, working, interacting with others, praying a bit, but never enough it seems. We try to keep oil in our lamps to be ready for the Bridegroom, lest we be caught like the foolish virgins of the parable, and we keep watch, for we know not the day nor the hour when the Bridegroom will arrive. Keeping watch does not mean living in fear, but being conscious of our ultimate destiny in the life to come and using the time here to prepare for it, to preview it by living a life of joy-filled love and service, of patience with ourselves and one another, and of seeking more effective and better ways of using our gifts to light the way for others. In so doing we will easily recognize the Bridegroom when he arrives.
Bro. Rene
Dear Jesus, help me to keep my lamp burning as a light to help myself and others recognize you when you arrive. Amen.
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