Reading of the Holy Gospel of Matthew
(Mt 25, 1-13)
At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: »The kingdom of heaven will be like when ten virgins took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were crazy and five were wise. The fools took the lamps, but did not take the oil with them. The wise men, together with the lamps, took oil in vessels.
»Since the fiancé was late, they all dozed off and overslept. At midnight there was a shout: ‘Here is the fiancé! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and arranged their lamps. The fools then said to the wise: ‘Give us some of your oil, our lamps are going out!’ The wise answer them: ‘Not at all! It would not reach us and you. Rather go to the sellers and buy!”
“While they were going to buy, the bridegroom came: those who were ready, entered with Him to the wedding and the door was closed. Later, the other virgins also came and stopped calling out: ‘Lord! Sir! Open for us!’ And he answered them: ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you!’ Watch, therefore, because you do not know the day or the hour!”
Word of God.
It is for us today, too dear… and weak and sinful… to pause before the Truth of this unique Gospel Opportunity.
Am I worthy of that lamp with a filled container of oil or not?! That is the fundamental question that I want to think about today.
Imagine… for all Eternity… for all timelessness, my heart and my soul must be ready… and we have become lukewarm and indifferent and angry with each other… but our God is not the God of the individual, he is already the God of the community! And if the enemy should be loved… and if the brother should be loved… then I can count on Eternity.
The depiction of the wise and foolish virgins… is a depiction of the prepared as well as the unprepared part of humanity… Oh, this Gospel testifies to us, as well as this anticipation… anticipation of the beloved Spouse… the Spouse whom I want to hasten to meet… to embrace Him… to simply have a relationship as with God Himself…
Watch – says our beloved Teacher of Faith and Priest of Eternity… watch…
This is the time of preparation… preparation for all Eternity. By putting it off until tomorrow or I don’t know when, we achieve nothing, because time is passing and the Day is approaching. This is the time of true vigilance and sober actions… especially towards the Beloved, towards God… Spouse of our souls and hearts… and I want you to feel that… I want you to feel that His Nearness, Presence and ultimately Coming.
Can we say with the psalmist… My heart is secure, God, my heart is secure…? If so… we are very much ready, as are our hearts and our souls.
Source:
- Holy choir for worship (1991.); Red Čitanja, Svetačka Čitanja, Kršćanska sadašnjost, Zagreb