Read today’s Gospel – Matthew 25: 1 – 1

Every disciple is responsible for receiving and developing a personal faith in the Lord. Today’s parable describes the Christian experience of disciples waiting for the return of Christ who said he will come back at the end of time. No one knows when that day or hour will be. Disciples simply have no choice but to wait.

The parable speaks of two attitudes of waiting. One is, while we wait we can do all we must to ensure that the appointed time does not catch us off guard. The other is being careless by not preparing sufficiently for that unexpected hour.

The parable speaks of ten attendants, five of whom were foolish and five were sensible. Five were foolish because they did not prepare, they brought no oil for their lamps. Five were sensible because they prepared well by bringing flasks of oil. The oil represents faith.

The message of the parable is disciples who are waiting for the Lord, must do so in faith. Every disciple is responsible for receiving and developing a personal faith in the Lord. No one can borrow another’s faith.