who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'
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.'
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.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
But he said in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour."
REFLECTION
Then the door was locked
PAPA has just returned from a spirit filled pilgrimage to Italy where we prayed morning and evening prayers, offered daily Mass, daily prayed the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Afraid I would not be able to continue to pray like this once I got home, I asked
my spiritual advisor what to do. His simple answer was, "discipline”.
If I can fit in activities, get up in the middle of the night when called in to work, or stay up all night with a sick child, I can pray at specific times to give praise and glory to God, to petition for the grace of repentance and pray a tearful plea for my family.
A relationship with God does not require physical or mental gifts that I might not possess. We always have what is needed: hearing His call and a desire to be with God.
When the bridegroom arrives and knocks on my door, will I be ready to join Him or will I be like the foolish virgins, not prepared for that final call.
The call comes who knows when. Will I happily join Him or find myself without anything for the eternal journey, ill prepared and no time left.
When the door locks, will I be on the side of the Lord or will I find myself banging on the door with all my undiscipline blocking my way in?
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