Friday 28 August 2026

Today is Friday the 28th of August, the feast of Saint Augustine, in the 21st week of Ordinary Time. Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum: My eyes are on the Lord God. As you journey through your life, are your eyes on the Lord? Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum Like the deer that yearns for running streams So my soul is yearning for my God My tears have become my bread day and night As I hear it said: 'Where is your God?′ Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum By day the Lord will send His loving Spirit By night I will sing praises to the God of my life Send out Your light and Your truth as my guide To lead me to Your holy ground Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum Then shall I go to the God of my joy Singing praise, praise on the lyre and the harp Why so downcast my soul? Put your hope and trust in my Saviour, my God 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.’ Wise and foolish. If we tend to arrive late to occasions, we might feel some sympathy for the foolish bridesmaids. In this parable Jesus is speaking about being well prepared for his return, when he will be the bridegroom. The bridesmaids need to trim their lamps to ensure that they have enough light. What preparations might you need to make to ensure that you would be ready for the hour when Jesus returns? When the bridegroom arrives, the wise bridesmaids accompany him into the wedding banquet. Try to imagine the procession of glowing lamps lighting up the hall, the lavish banquet, the joy of the wedding guests as they welcome the bridegroom, adorned in his wedding clothes, and try to imagine the jubilation that will be felt when the long wait is over. As you listen to the reading again, notice the activity of the foolish bridesmaids. 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.’ “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” On his feast day, we remember St. Augustine as being someone known for overcoming his worldly desires through his passion for the Lord. So, as we approach the end of our prayer time today, consider: how can I keep my heart of love lit, aflame, and ready for the moment when the Lord arrives? 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