Matthew 25:1-13

       Party on Garth

       1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

       I am amazed by the almost biblical sanction of partying in this reading. It seems that both the foolish and the wise want to attend the feast (party). The difference between the two is who is prepared and who is not. The reading clearly indicates a party, life going on as usual and some of the cast not prepared for what is coming.

       It isn't enough for us to say that God loves us and wants us to have a grand old time 24/7/365. God loves us but the message is clear, we have to be realistic about life and plan as well. Of course we have to plan and expect that at some point we will be called back to our Lord but what about preparations for life and living? How do we prepare while we are here? How do we find a balance between preparing for then and the now?

        God loves us, this is true. God created us special, this is true. God wants us to be happy and enjoy life, this is also true. God has given us friends, family, a planet and all of these things, including things that we feel we 'own', that are actually only entrusted to us. We prepare for life by respecting it all and using what has been entrusted to us wisely. This is a journey of growth through learning, enlightenment and prayer. These are things we are responsible for on our journey as much as God wants us to be happy and have a good time.

       By all means, party on Garth but keep one foot in reality.