Keep Awake

Jesus said, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 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.’ 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. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13 

Keep Awake

Always drowsy, eyes drooping

the soft wind and the lull of the ocean

the whole body aches for the release of sleep

for dreams to cover the present hurt.

We are called to be ready at all times

lamps trimmed and full for the bridgegroom

and yet the day has been so long the work exhausting

we want to lay down and take our rest.

Does God demand an exhausted people?

do we think the Divine would abuse us this way?

Or can we live with anticipation and joy

ready to act in our sleeping or our waking?

God delights in our tenderness and care

the love we shower on one another

and the time we take to tend our bodies

as we build up the temple for God.

May we take this day the look in hope

to anticipate the miracle, the bridegroom, the change

may we believe that the Creator is on the brink

of doing a new thing in our midst.

Be awake to the possibilities

not jaded by the hurt of the past

leap up and embrace the love that is coming

light your lamps sister, the day is here!