Ten Bridesmaids

Reading : Matthew 24:42

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil in their vessels with their lamps.

As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, "Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." Then all those bridesmaids got up, and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil; for our lamps are going out." But the wise replied, "No! There will not be enough for us and you: you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves."

And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came; and those that were ready went with him to the wedding: and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us." But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you". Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour (that the Son of man cometh). [NRSV]

How many of the bridesmaids knew the bridegroom was coming? All of them. Then why weren't they all ready? They got sleepy and weren't prepared for the long wait. The foolish bridesmaids didn't bring enough oil. Jesus says we must be like the wise bridesmaids that were prepared. We must be ready for the wait. What are we waiting for? For Christ to come. The bridesmaids knew what they were supposed to do - to participate in the wedding and have themselves and their lamps ready when the bridegroom came. We also know what we are supposed to do. We are to have ourselves ready and our tasks ready when Christ comes.

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