Friday 30 August 2024

Today is Friday the 30th of August in the 21st week of Ordinary Time. The Cape Town Camerata sings, ‘Meguru’: Lord you are up there, and we are down here. Have mercy on us when we part, and show us your love. Nampili tuli ronge kapi Nga tuka ji ghwanah. Nampili tuli ronge kapi Nga tuka ji ghwanah. Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne Meguru, membo yene ne Nampili turah ronge Jesu, Ka pia ta rohra kah. Nampili turah ronge Jesu, Ka pia ta rohra kah. Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne Meguru, membo yene ne Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 25:1-13 ‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil 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 you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; 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. Jesus’ parables often reveal God as a God of surprises. It’s easy for us to get complacent and mould God to our own design. Living a spiritual life means being alert to the unexpected ways in which God’s action can take us unawares. Has God ever surprised you? What do you think the oil represents in this story, and what would it mean to ‘keep your lamp from going out’ in your own life? Can you imagine any reason why God might say to you, or to anyone ‘I do not know you’, and what that would be like? This parable offers both challenge and encouragement. Jesus tells us to ‘stay awake’. How do you think you might do that on a daily basis? As you respond to this parable, allow yourself to speak to Jesus from your heart, expressing your thoughts and feelings, and asking for whatever grace you feel in need of at this time. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.