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Tending the Light
Dear Friends in Christ,
There is a small detail in this Sunday's Gospel that has stayed with me. Jesus tells the story of ten bridesmaids waiting for a wedding celebration. Five have brought extra oil for their lamps, while five have failed to prepare for a delay. As the evening stretches on and the bridegroom has yet to arrive, something very human happens. All ten bridesmaids fall asleep.
Even the wise ones.
And yet, Jesus concludes the parable by telling his disciples to keep awake. It is a curious contradiction until we realize that the difference between the bridesmaids was never their ability to remain awake. It was their preparation for a night that lasted longer than expected.
I suspect many of us understand something about that kind of waiting. We pray for loved ones, worry about the future, carry responsibilities, and do our best to remain hopeful in a world that can feel increasingly uncertain. Some seasons of life ask more of us than we ever imagined we would have to give. Even the most faithful among us grow weary.
What I find comforting in this Gospel is that Jesus makes room for our humanity. The wise bridesmaids experienced the same exhaustion as everyone else. Their wisdom was found in having something to sustain them through the waiting.
For us, that spiritual nourishment comes through prayer, worship, friendship, acts of kindness, and the quiet practice of living our faith each day. These are the things that replenish our hearts and help us remain faithful when life becomes difficult.
As you read this, I will be away leading a retreat, spending time with others in prayer, reflection, and the gentle work of listening for God's presence. Preparing for this time has reminded me how important it is for all of us to make room for spiritual renewal. Even those of us who spend our lives caring for others need opportunities to be cared for, to receive God's grace, and to remember that the world remains in God's hands.
I also find myself thinking about what this Gospel asks of us as a parish. At St. Mary's, we have been entrusted with a beautiful tradition of worship, hospitality, and service. Yet the light of a church is sustained by something deeper than its building or its programs. It shines through the compassion we offer, the neighbors we welcome, the prayers we share, and the ways we make Christ's love visible beyond our doors.
Our call is to tend that light together.
So this week, I invite you to consider what is nourishing your soul. Where have you found God's presence lately? What might need a little replenishing? And how might you offer a measure of light to someone whose journey has become difficult?
The Gospel reminds us that faithful living requires preparation, but it also invites us to recognize our limits and receive the grace that sustains us.
May we be a people whose lamps are filled with mercy, whose hearts remain open to one another, and whose faith continues to shine through whatever darkness the world may bring.
With love and gratitude in Christ,
Mo. Allison+
Rector, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
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