Daily Light: Reflections for Holy Times - Do You Have Enough?

Daily Reflections for Holy Times: November 29-December 31, 2020

Do You Have Enough?

Matthew 25: 1-13 NRSV

“God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.

6 “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’

7-8 “The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’

9 “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’

10 “They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.

11 “Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’

12 “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’

13 “So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

Do you have enough?

I thought I had enough.

But as the days of pandemic draw on, I am not so sure anymore. I feel like my reserves are waning. If my reserves are a gas tank, the low tank light has been on for awhile.

Nature is my grounding. As the weather changes, I wonder if I will be able to sustain the weeks and months. It is not a burning oil I can go buy at the hardware store. It is the oil produced from spiritual labor. And I feel like I am in the midst of hard labor with little progress. Nature welcomes winter, why am I not welcoming this hard labor?

Yet, with the sunrise this morning, the dawn of hope revealed a new thought. I am not alone on this journey. Perhaps for the first time in my lifetime, the world is on a journey together. The world is awaiting the light to bring new life. Perhaps there are more of us staying alert for the light to emerge. Perhaps the Holy needs us to grow together in this way, to be the people God created us to be.

Perhaps I am not asking the right questions.

Is your lamp lighted?

Perhaps we are invited to light our lamp and trust that the Holy is tending the space with us: teaching us new things about caring for neighbors and sharing resources, encouraging us to let go of our need to know so that we become students of waiting.

I trust the sun will rise. I trust God is near. In the space of trust, God will know me, and I will know God.

So, light your lamp, and join in this journey of trust. It is enough.

With a grateful heart,
Lil Smith

Co-founder of Retreat House
Spiritual Director and Supervisor
Practicum Instructor at Perkins Certificate in Spiritual Direction

This excerpt is part of Retreat House’s Daily Light series. To sign up to receive these, email us.