Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

 

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.  Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!’  Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’  But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’  While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.  Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’  But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’  Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

 

In today’s gospel reading, we hear the story of the ten virgins. Like yesterday’s message, today’s message emphasizes the need to be vigilant in our quest for communion with Christ, the bridegroom. The ten virgins had oil lamps, five had a surplus of oil and five did not. The virgins were the bridesmaids whose job it was to light the way to the house of the bride. When the bridegroom approached, they would light their lamps so that the bridegroom would know where to find them. The five young virgins who had a store of excess oil where well illuminated and prepared for the bridegroom. Their lamps shone brightly all the time. The other five were not prepared because they ran out of oil. While they left to go buy more, the bridegroom arrived and entered the house. He closed the door behind him to keep out the strangers. The five who were prepared were let in and the five that were not were stuck outside. They cried out, “Lord, lord, open the door.” But the bridegroom replied, “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” It is unfortunate because these five virgin’s were originally inside the house, but because they were not ever vigilant, they were drawn away from the house when the bridegroom arrived. We too must be prepared for the Lord. We may be in the house, but if we are not vigilant in our pursuit of the Kingdom, then we too can be lead away from the house. We should be prepared. We should stock up on grace so that our lamp will shine forever bright. If our lamp is week or it runs out of oil, the Bridegroom will not know us and will not let us in. We should continually renew the oil of our lamp by actively participating in the Eucharist, by living the gospel and by sharing the love which God has poured into our souls. God will provide us with an endless supply of oil if we only look to heaven for his grace.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, make vigilant and attentive to the presence of the Bridegroom,

May I be prepared when he calls me into his house.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon