Third Tuesday of Advent 2024

When the time comes, Heaven's imperial rule will be like ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were sensible.  You see, the foolish maidens took their lamps but failed to take oil with them, while the sensible took extra oil along with their lamps.  When the bridegroom didn't come, they all dozed off and fell asleep.

Then in the middle of the night there was a shout:  "Look, the bridegroom is coming! Let's go out and meet him." Then the maidens all got up and trimmed their lamps.

The foolish said to the sensible ones, "Let us have some of your oil because our lamps are going out."

But the prudent maidens response, "We can't do that in case there isn't enough for both of us.  Instead, you had better go to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.

While they were gone to get some, the bridegroom arrived and those who had come prepared accompanied him to the wedding; then the door was closed.

The other maidens finally come and say, "Master, master, open the door for us."

He responded, "I swear to you, I don't recognize you."

So stay alert because you don't know either the day or the hour.

(Matthew 25:1-13, SV)

 "Expectation--anxious, collective, and operative expectation of an end of the world, that is to say, of an issue for the world--that is perhaps the supreme Christian function and the most distinctive characteristic of our religion.

"Historically speaking, that expectation has never ceased to guide the progress of our faith like a torch...We persist in saying that we keep vigil in expectation of the Master.  But in reality we should have to admit, if we were sincere, that we no longer expect anything.  The flame must be revived at all costs. At all costs we must renew in ourselves the desire and the hope for the great coming.  But where are we to look for the source of this rejuvenation?  From the perception of a more intimate connection between the victory of Christ and the outcome of the work which our human effort here below is seeking to construct."

--Pierre Tielhard de Chardin

That Chardin assumes an effort must be made on our part is not to be overlooked.