27th August 2021
REMAIN WATCHFUL
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Psalms 97
Matthew 25:1-13
“Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
In the Gospel of today, we find two sets of maidens who were waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom; “Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise” Mathew 25:2. The wise one had enough oil for their lamps and so they were ushered into the wedding feast even when the bridegroom arrived late. The foolish ones had not carried enough oil for their lamps; when the bridegroom was late to arrive, they went off to buy more oil and they were eventually locked out because the bridegroom arrived when they were away.
We live in a world where everything has to be defined. Any event must be given specific time of starting and ending. It’s unfortunate that the time for one’s death is still hidden. Since there is no specific time for one’s death, it can lead to laxity and indifference instead of continuous preparation and readiness. That is the reason why in today’s world there are many that do not care about the life after death and focus only on the present pleasure and forget about securing eternal life.
Many today live as if what is important is to enjoy the life on earth to the maximum. They pay hardly any thought about the fact that life here is short and at any time it can come to an end. Even while under the threat of pandemic, men fail to give a thought about preparedness to face death and judgment. Jesus cautions; “Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Mathew 25:13. We are at the risk of being locked out of the banquet of heaven, like the five foolish maidens.
We need to be like the wise maidens who prepared themselves for the wedding feast seriously no matter whether the arrival of the Lord is late or might happen at a most unexpected time. Its foolishness to postpone the preparations thinking that there is plenty of time left.
The wise maidens had the good intention to receive the bridegroom, and were fully prepared. But the foolish maidens, although they had the good intention to receive the bridegroom, were not properly prepared for their duty. Having good intentions alone is not enough; our good intentions have to be supported by our good actions; “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my work” James 2:18.
When called to be his followers, it is for the long haul. Our lamps must burn right to the very end, through good times and bad times. Earlier, Jesus had called his followers the light of the world and urged them to let their light shine so that others might give glory to God for them. Keeping our lamps burning, letting our light shine, involves doing what the Lord wants us to do, for as long as we are able. If we do this, then, when he shall come, he shall find us at our post, ready to welcome him.
Lord help us to remain watchful.
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