Embracing Love

Listening to the Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listening to the Word

Matthew 25:1–13

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’

While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Reflection

Is there anything that we should bring to be with the Lord?

His word and food have been given us likewise his gentle invitation to follow and remain with Him. Yet, after the unconditional trust of early days, our ears could have turned to other voices, our hearts may have answered to other invitations; other kinds of foods and drinks we might have sought.

So today the Lord is telling us that we will be left behind unless we love him more than other lovers. We won't be able to enter unless we love him more than our own life, we won't see a door open unless we carry our own cross and follow him. And the indication is not to look for big doors, the Lord is to be found behind narrow doors like that of Nazareth and sunset is the time to ask him to remain with us.

Lord, we love you despite our love for you is only a shadow of your love for us.