Are you prepared?
I have recently returned from a holiday where the activities we undertook each day needed forethought and planning. This is an activity that my husband and I both threw ourselves into with gusto, excitement, and intent. We wanted to make the most out of our time and resources that we’d committed to the holiday.
As we travelled, we witnessed unity following destruction, and communities looking after each other. We marvelled at the commitment of communities to rebuilding so they could worship God, in a country that had seen such devastation. All that we experienced was the result of the intentionality of people, preparing for the future.
Sunday’s readings talk of wisdom, watchfulness, and preparedness. As disciples of God, we are invited to breathe in the life of God; to pause and recognise Him in the people and creation around us; and to share of ourselves, responding as Jesus would to all we encounter.
Like the bridesmaids who prepared for their time of waiting for the bridegroom in the Gospel reading, we too are invited to prepare ourselves so that when the Lord comes, we can enter His kingdom.
To be prepared means to be a doer rather than a mere hearer of the word. We prepare ourselves by continually adding small drops of oil to our lamps. Our oil is sourced from the activities of our daily life where we touch, serve, and love Jesus.
Things like a smile, a word of encouragement, a phone call, a card, an embrace or kind word, a helping hand, a gesture of support, a financial contribution, or a visit. These simple intentional gestures and acts of service and love, along with a life of prayer, and worship are the drops of love that keep our religious life burning like a lively flame.
This is how we are recognised as disciples of Christ. When the bridegroom comes will we be ready?
Debbie Matheson (Lay Pastoral Leader/Parish Leader)
