GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 1ST SEPTEMBER 2017
FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: 1Thessalonians 4:1-8
PSALM: Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 10-12
GOSPEL: Matthew 25:1-13
THEME: THE OIL FOR WAITING
There are many people who do not budget for the period of waiting in their lives because they do not expect or anticipate it. They have what it takes to wait for some time but not what it takes to wait for a very long time. However, the truth of the matter is that life is full of waiting and sometimes prolonged waiting.
In our Gospel text for today, the five foolish virgins did not anticipate a prolonged time of waiting. They had oil to wait for some time but not enough oil to wait for a very long time. Therefore, when the worst happened and the bridegroom delayed they found out that they had run out of oil. They tried to make up for the shortage at the last moment by going off to buy it. Unfortunately, time was no longer on their side. What an irony? In one instance, they had so much time that they could afford a period of sleep, and now in the next instance they did not have enough time to get back from town with new oil.
Quite a number of Christians experience burnouts in their spiritual lives because they have not developed the capacity to wait on the Lord for a very long time. For a moment, they fast and pray, seeking the face of the Lord for a particular intention. If it happens that the Lord delays, according to their human timing, they burn out because they do not have any more oil for waiting.
The oil for waiting is an attitude of perseverance. It is an attitude that anticipates unforeseen circumstances and makes the necessary provisions as such. To have oil for waiting is to come to the understanding that we do not set time for the Lord to act; he acts in his time and in his time, he makes all things beautiful. To have oil for waiting is to be ready anytime and anywhere for the visitation of the Lord.
When you really want something or long for someone, you do not mind how much time it takes to wait. If we truly love the Lord, we will wait for him. With intense prayer, let us psych our minds, fortify our spirits and continue waiting upon the Lord. Your time of divine visitation is just around the corner.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I don’t mind waiting. I will keep waiting upon you until your glory shines forth in my life. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).