A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins 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: "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
God had chosen Israel as His Chosen people. However, they rejected Him and His plan for them. A new Israel will be formed: the Kingdom of heaven has started. Jesus warns us to mull over our existence and our final destination by way of this Parable of the Ten Virgins. Jesus is the bridegroom. The virgins are mankind. And this is the Last Judgment.
There were ten virgins waiting for their Lord. They all were sleepy and fell asleep. However, when the Bridegroom arrives unexpectedly, five of the virgins were not prepared for His arrival and did not make it to the wedding feast. Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Be vigilant!! Be prepared!!
We do not know that moment when God calls each and every soul to Himself. This is the moment of death. And it is this time of death that the state of the soul is fixed for eternity. There are people who take their existence and their eternity seriously and so they are prepared for whenever they are called. The others were interested in other things and did not have the where with all to have full flasks of oil of perseverance, desire to be with Him, prayer and a bevy of good works, holiness, devotion and love for God.
Our ultimate end is God. Success, fame, family and entertaining will not get us there if our souls are not maintained. What is our motivation for our conduct? Do we seek the good Lord through works of love or is our life empty of good works? Do we follow the Ten Commandments?
Decide what to do to make it to heaven. Only you and you alone bear full responsibility for your future. Imagine God beckoning you to His table --the wedding banquet. Choose wisely.
God Bless You.
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