Matthew 25:1-13 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 25:1-13 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 25"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Verse 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Verse 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; Verse 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. Verse 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. Verse 6But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Verse 7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. Verse 8The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' Verse 9But 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.' Verse 10And 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. Verse 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' Verse 12But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Verse 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Devotion
There are always those who ask, "But what about the second coming?" There will always be a human tendency to suppress the joy of living as a child of God in the present, by worrying about the future. Jesus in this parable calls you and me to live with a different kind of expectation. We are invited to hold on to the precious gift of faith, but not so tightly that the very faith itself becomes a tedious law or morality play. It is quite clear that we must be prepared to welcome our Lord's coming at any time. But rather than imagining we are preparing for the worst, you and I in joyful anticipation live always as ones who are preparing ourselves for the best.
Prayer
God, may the church on earth dedicate itself to nurturing the faith. Help us prayerfully feed the hungry of this world. May our fruit be obedient and joyful lives through which your light continues to shine to light up the whole world, until your Son returns in glory. Amen.