Watch and Wait

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¹ "Then ² the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

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³ Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

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The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them,

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but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.

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Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

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At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

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Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

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The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

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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.'

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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.

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⁴ Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'

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But he said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'

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Therefore, stay awake, ⁵ for you know neither the day nor the hour.

 

(Matthew 25: 1 – 13)

 

The foolish virgins did not anticipate a delay and were unprepared when the bridegroom was long delayed. (v5)

St. Augustine in his Sermons, 93 wrote: "Watch with the heart, watch with faith, watch with love, watch with charity, watch with good works […]; make ready the lamps, make sure they do not go out […], renew them with inner oil of an upright conscience; then shall the Bridegroom enfold you in the embrace of his love and bring you into his banquet room, where your lamp can never be extinguished."

When I reflect on the above, I think of the message of 122108: Wait!

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Why are you downcast, my soul; why do you groan within me? Wait for God, whom I shall praise again, my savior and my God." (Psalm 42: 6)