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Matthew 25:1 “The Kingdom of Heaven at that time will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 The foolish ones took lamps with them but no oil, 4 whereas the others took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Now the bridegroom was late, so they all went to sleep. 6 It was the middle of the night when the cry rang out, ‘The bridegroom is here! Go out to meet him!’ 7 The girls all woke up and prepared their lamps for lighting. 8 The foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both you and us. Go to the oil dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But as they were going off to buy, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11 Later, the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they cried, ‘Let us in!’ 12 But he answered, ‘Indeed! I tell you, I don’t know you!’ 13 So stay alert, because you know neither the day nor the hour.(Complete Jewish Bible)
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There are always those who ask, "But what about the second coming?" There will always be a human tendency to suppress the joy of living as a child of God in the present, by worrying about the future. Jesus in this parable calls you and me to live with a different kind of expectation. We are invited to hold on to the precious gift of faith, but not so tightly that the very faith itself becomes a tedious law or morality play. It is quite clear that we must be prepared to welcome our Lord's coming at any time. But rather than imagining we are preparing for the worst, you and I in joyful anticipation live always as ones who are preparing ourselves for the best.
God, may the church on earth dedicate itself to nurturing the faith. Help us prayerfully feed the hungry of this world. May our fruit be obedient and joyful lives through which your light continues to shine to light up the whole world, until your Son returns in glory. Amen.
Chris Enstad, '00
Lead Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Madison and Verona, Wis.
Matthew 25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a shout, "Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9 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.'
10 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.
11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, lord, open to us.'
12 But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you.'13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.(New Revised Standard Version)
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The Luther Seminary
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Telephone: (651)641-3456-
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