Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ - Matthew 25:1-12
Some of the dangers of waiting to be ready are inherent to waiting, in the same ways that the bridesmaids fell asleep. All ten fell asleep. But there are other dangers that are related to not being prepared for a sudden change. Long waiting can lead to complacency, or assumptions about how really ready you have to me. What I see here is the need to be ready for a change. God has told us all sorts of things that we might be asked to do-be hospitable, be caring, be kind, be generous, or even something as simple as rejoicing or as complicated as Christ returning. The difference between being ready and not being ready is hoping like what is hoped for is unbearably desirable and willing to be interrupted.
Am I willing to be interrupted when Jesus shows up, in whatever guise?
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