Marist Association Daily Prayer

Let us always remember that

we are in the holy presence of God

May God continue to live in our hearts

In the name of the Father,

Son and Holy Spirit

Amen

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  • Intention of the Day
  • Today's Gospel
  • Breaking Open the Word
  • Marist Source
  • Reflection
  • Meditation
  • Call to Action
  • Closing Prayer

Intention of the Day

That we detach ourselves from earthly goods.
Brothers' Community and Marists, St Michael's Primary School, Daceyville, NSW.

That we detach ourselves from earthly goods.
Brothers' Community and Marists, St Michael's Primary School, Daceyville, NSW.

Today's Gospel

The foolish ones, took their lamps, took no oil with them... the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.

Matthew 25: 3-4
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Matthew 25: 1-13.

1 'Then the kingdom of Heaven will be like this: Ten wedding attendants took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible:

3 the foolish ones, though they took their lamps, took no oil with them,

4 whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.

5 The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.

6 But at midnight there was a cry, "Look! The bridegroom! Go out and meet him."

7 Then all those wedding attendants woke up and trimmed their lamps,

8 and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, "Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out."

9 But they replied, "There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves."

10 They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed.

11 The other attendants arrived later. "Lord, Lord," they said, "open the door for us."

12 But he replied, "In truth I tell you, I do not know you."

13 So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.

Breaking Open The Word

The wise draw upon the resource necessary to live the faith-filled life today, and tonight, and tomorrow.

Taken from: Give Us This Day
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Taken from: Give Us This Day

Shine . . . Today, Tonight, and Tomorrow.

It really is all about the oil. All ten maidens were ready for the ball. All ten had to wait. All of them became drowsy. All of them slept. The wise ones took a flask of oil along in order to keep the fire burning. It wasn’t gallons, but it was enough: enough for the wait, enough for the party, enough for the day, enough for the night. As one preacher put it, “it’s not about how much oil you have, it’s about how much you carry with you.” But it is all about the oil.

When it comes to the history of interpretation of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Maidens, in the history of an allegorical approach, the oil has been understood as good works, faith, spiritual practices, deeds of discipleship, acts of love and mercy. Hearers of the Word shouldn’t be asked to pick one. You drill down too far on the oil, you get too specific about what it means, and the parable loses some of its luster. What sets the wise apart from the foolish is not simply that they act on the teaching of Jesus. The wise draw upon the resource necessary to live the faith-filled life today, and tonight, and tomorrow.

The oil? Is it faith? Is it spiritual practices? Is it deeds of discipleship? Is it acts of love and mercy? The answer is yes. All mixed with a bit of grace and the Holy Spirit, a bit of fellowship and praise and a lot of prayer. A Kingdom life. Yes, they all had to wait for the bridegroom to come, but when the lamps were trimmed, their light had to shine right then and there, right now.

If it’s all about the oil, make sure you carry enough with you for today, and tonight, and tomorrow. Live the life that Jesus teaches right now.

Rev. Dr. David A. Davis, adapted from Naked, and You Clothed Me. Taken from Give Us This Day.

Rev. Dr. David A. Davis is the pastor of Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey. He earned a PhD in homiletics from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he continues to teach as a visiting lecturer.

That we detach ourselves from earthly goods.
Brothers' Community and Marists, St Michael's Primary School, Daceyville, NSW.

Marist Source

We open our homes to the poor and we share with them our presence, time and resources.

#WFR 24.

That we detach ourselves from earthly goods.
Brothers' Community and Marists, St Michael's Primary School, Daceyville, NSW.

To Ponder

“Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him”. How have you encountered God today?

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Where has the Spirit drawn you in today's prayer?

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Closing Prayer

All Loving God

Cultivate in us a spirituality that flows out of Marian simplicity, humility and modesty.

Release in us wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement for your work in which we share.

Help us set our gaze on those people and places most in need of Christlife,

Impel us to respond together,

And lead us to be in communion with one another, and with you.

Like Mary, we listen for your invitation,

Like Mary, we set out joyfully and in haste to the hill country of the lives of young people,

Like Mary, we build communities in ways that are Christ-centred.

All Loving God, come and live in our hearts.

 

 Amen