Friday 9 August 2024

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Today is Friday 9 August, the feast of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, in the 18th week of Ordinary Time.

Eliza King sings, ‘My Beloved’. How do these words speak to you today?

The bread that I feast on

The well that I draw from

The ground that I stand on

And the name that I call

My strength in the morning

My peace in the evening

My reason for living

When life just feels too heavy

So this is where you'll find me

Leaning on my beloved

I shelter in His mercy

And in the shadow of His wings

Yeah this is where you'll find me

Leaning on my beloved

Bearing all my weakness

He makes up for all these things

All I have to do is lean

The bread that I feast on

The well that I draw from

The ground that I stand on

And the name that I call

My strength in the morning

My peace in the evening

My reason for living

When life just feels too heavy

So this is where you'll find me

Leaning on my beloved

I shelter in His mercy

And in the shadow of His wings

Yeah this is where you'll find me

Leaning on my beloved

Bearing all my weakness

He makes up for all these things

So let my eyes not look for anything but the gaze of my true love

And let my hands not reach for anything that may come in between us

Let my heart not search for refuge and strength in counterfeit places

And let my feet not walk toward any rest that isn't Your presence

No this is where you'll find me

Leaning on my beloved

Now I've seen His beauty

I'm ruined for all the others

Yeah this is where you'll find me

Leaning on my beloved

No one else could draw my heart away, my heart away

For I am my beloved's, my beloved is mine

I am my beloved's, my beloved is mine

I am my beloved's, my beloved is mine

I am my beloved's, my beloved is mine

And all I have to do is lean

All I have to do is lean

So this is where you'll find me, where you'll find me

This is where you'll find me

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 25:1-13

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

This extraordinary story only appears in Matthew’s Gospel. How does this parable speak to you?

Notice the “foolish” bridesmaids…what did they get wrong? Do you recognise anything similar in your own life?

Notice now the attitude of the “wise” bridesmaids? What do you recognise of their behaviour in your life now?

Now listen as the story is read to you once more. What really strikes you about it this time?

Finally, can you recall where you were moved as you listened? Do you think that you might turn that into a prayer to God?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.