Mt 25: 1-13
“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 those 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, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ready to Serve
I carry a big purse. I want to be prepared, not only for myself, but to make life easier for the people around me. I have at least 4 sizes of bandaids, sunscreen, and an instant ice pack at the ready, hanging off my shoulder everyday. I am ready to triage any random stranger at the grocery store who is suddenly hurt by a falling cereal box.
In relating to the Gospel story, I physically have some extra oil flasks tucked in there not only for my lamp, but for others. Living as a person for others invites me to not only have my oil prepped, but also to help carry others in their need. I’ve found that there has to be a willingness to be open to others and see their needs, so that I can be of service. Otherwise, I’m just hurting my shoulders for no reason.
How are you readying yourself for your gifts and all that you carry to be available to serve those in need?
— Kathy Powell is the Creative Director & Content Strategist for Becky Eldredge | Ignatian Ministries. She spends her days dreaming up ways to invite people deeper in their walk with God, reminding her kids to use their inside voices, and walking with families who have lost a child by miscarriage.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance
everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly
that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through us and be so in us
that every soul we come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus.
Stay with us and then we shall begin to shine as you shine,
so to shine as to be light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from you.
None of it will be ours.
It will be you shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching,
not by words, but by our example;
by the catching force –
the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you. Amen
—St Teresa of Calcutta