Have you ever stood at a door knocking and… being refused entry?
You knew that some people were there but did not open.
Finally, they simply said that… they did not know you.
A very frustrating experience, if ever there was one!
This is a scene we find in today’s gospel text (Matthew 25:1-13).
It is entitled: Ten bridesmaids – five of them qualify as ‘sensible’, the others are said to be ‘foolish’.
This parable of Jesus is well known to us and its message also but…
We may tend to keep seeing it as a story and remain reluctant to see where we, ourselves, stand…
All ten bridesmaids fell asleep – the problem was not there.
But some of them had prepared for a long wait… the others had not…
Waiting – there is much waiting in our lives!
Situations when we must wait for something to happen, for someone to arrive –
this is familiar to all of us.
But there is a special kind of waiting…
It is waiting for… GOD…
This means that, first, we believe that he is indeed coming, coming to us, personally.
When will he reach us?
We do not know.
How will his presence be manifest?
This is also unknown and… unpredictable!
Like us, the apostles wanted to know, and they had asked Jesus:
“The apostles came and asked him privately,
‘Tell us when is this going to happen,
and what will be the sign of your coming’.”
He, himself, says: “I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7,12).
When they asked the question from Jesus, his apostles were thinking of the end of the world.
But this is not the only moment we should expect him.
He will definitely come to us… at the end of our lives, each one of us.
But again, there is more to his coming to us than this last moment of our existence.
In fact, God is constantly coming to us.
The sudden inspiration to help someone in need – he is coming…
The unexpected arrival of a hoped for visitor – he is coming…
The strength received to be faithful to a commitment – he is coming…
The compassion received from a friend in a time of loss – he is coming…
The health restored after a serious accident – he is coming…
The forgiveness received from him in spite of much unfaithfulness – he is coming…
But to see it all, one has to be… ‘sensible’ – having this special oil of perception of his constant coming!
Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/32e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/
Source: Image: Doyenné Pau – périphérie