Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, '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 the 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.'

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Two thousand year's ago weddings in Palestine followed a pattern - the formal agreement between the fathers, then the betrothal when promises were made and given, and finally the bridegroom would come for his bride. This last could be a year later, and it was fun to see if he could come unexpectedly. In Matthew's story there was to be a torchlight procession, as the bridesmaids guided the bridegroom and bride to the wedding feast, their lighted torches soaked in oil with little pots of oil to keep them alight.

In the parable the bridegroom is the Messiah, that is Jesus. Note that all the bridesmaids fall asleep, though the foolish ones haven't brought extra oil. They are not wicked, just thoughtless! We are the bridesmaids, we have all heard God's message about the Kingdom of Heaven, but we shouldn't think our place is assured. The whole group thought they would be admitted, but it was the unexpectedness and lack of preparation that saw the foolish ones kept out.

Friday 28th August, follow up thoughts

Lord God,
may Your Kingdom come
in the fullness of time,
and may we we be found
awake and ready to be admitted
into the Kingdom of Heaven
when Your Son, our Lord
comes to call us.
Amen.