Have you ever been called? You know, when you were a kid and mom or dad called you to come home? You really didn’t linger long, you just went on home. You had no idea what you were being called to except to home. Could be it was dinner time. Could be there was bad weather coming. Could be there was news, good or bad. Whatever the outcome, we just went home…or at least I did.
Is being called by God the same? I think so. God calls us in God’s good time, not in our good time. It can be for “dinner”, you know something to feed our soul. It can be for wonderful or wonderous news, you know, like you got a new job, a new relationship, or a new duty. It can be tough, like learning of the death of your granddaughter, a spouse, a brother, a sister, a parent, or a good friend. The call can be to new duties for the Kingdom.
Whatever the call, we are asked to be ready when called. Jesus tells the story of the bridal party. You know, the one with the lamps and lamp oil. Half were ready with extra oil, so they could answer the call and half were not ready. This parable is not so much about planning ahead as it is about understanding the kingdom of God. We are always on God’s time and since we are not privy to that timeless timeframe, we have to live life ready. For the bridesmaids, it was about remembering that we are in God’s time, not our own. Half were ready, they know that God might have other plans.
Aren’t, we the ones called to the kingdom? Aren’t we the ones who listen for that “still small voice”? Aren’t we the ones who are supposed to prepare for the kingdom?….by always having enough oil in reserve to light the way? And how do we have enough oil on hand? We have habits like prayer, worship, Lectio Divina, meditation, and living in a community. We never just do it all alone, on our own. Keep enough oil in reserve to light your way. Keep good spiritual habits. We are called to let our “lights shine” so that means enough oil on hand for the long term, you know until the bridegroom gets here.
TMM