Reading: Matthew 25:1-6

Matthew 25:6 – “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!'”

Today and tomorrow we read the parable of the ten bridesmaids. It is the first of three parables in chapter 25 that speak of what the kingdom of God is or will be like. All three carry warnings. These three parables, read over three weeks, will challenge us and our faith.

Verses 1-13 begin with the context: “Then the kingdom of God will be like…” To be honest, to be up front, initially this story might not feel at all like what we think the kingdom of God should be like. In the first part of the parable we learn that there are five wise and five foolish bridesmaids. The wise ones brought extra oil. That is the only difference. All ten fall asleep as the bridegroom is really delayed.

The oil in the lamp is often thought of as faith. As we read on, today and in the next two weeks, we will discover that it is more about keeping oil in our lamps. If we are tending to our faith, if we are working on our relationship with the Lord, then when we are roused by a shout or when we are suddenly beset by a storm or trial, then we will have faith to carry us through.

The sleeping bridesmaids are awakened suddenly. In verse 6 we read, “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!'” Remember the last time that you were woken unexpectedly in the middle of the night? Disconcerted, confused, discombobulated. In the unexpected and sudden moments of life, if we have not been attentive to our faith and to our present relationship with God, we might just turn to something or someone else. May our “lamps” ever be full.

Prayer: Lord God, in the ordinary of life, it can be easy to cruise along. But when we cruise, our faith can grow thin, almost like it evaporates. Keep us actively tending to our faith in good times, in bad times, and in the ordinary of life. Tending to our faith, Lord fill our “lamps”  – our hearts – with you and your presence – the “oil.” Then, when the shout comes, when the storm crashes down, remind us to let our faith shine, lighting the way through the darkness. Amen.