Presence

Lord, help me to be fully alive to Your holy presence. Enfold me in Your love. Let my heart become one with Yours.

Freedom

I ask for the grace
to let go of my own concerns
and be open to what God is asking of me,
to let myself be guided and formed by my loving Creator.

Consciousness

Dear Lord, open me to hear and receive Your Word today. May it bear much fruit in my life, and in the lives of others.

The Word of God

¹“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.^{, 2}Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷Then all those young women got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹But 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.’ ¹⁰And 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. ¹¹Later the other young women came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹²But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ ¹³Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.^,

Inspiration

For me, millennia later, this speaks of moments of grace and opportunity, as when a great love comes into my life, or a chance of reconciliation, or an unexpected blow. It comes unexpectedly, as a shock, and can find me fumbling. Lord, give me the grace today to find you in every encounter. Make me ready to recognise you.

The lamp is given to us by God, and our prayer or time given to God is the oil. All of God's actions in our lives are his gifts, but they need our openness and welcome. Prayer builds up our 'supply of oil', which can give light and fragrance to the rest of our lives.

Conversation

Dear Lord, help me each day
to seek Your presence more and more.
Fill my heart with love for You.

Conclusion

I thank God for His gift of love
as I go forth with joy and hope
to serve His people.

Amen