12. Tuesday after Second Sunday in Advent.
Lord Jesus, grant that we
may hear thy word and live. Amen.
Matthew 25, 1-13. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
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What shall it profit us to be called believers, if we be not such in fact? Or what gain is there in our having, at one time, been living Christians, if we do not remain steadfast to the end? What good purpose is served by having lamps, if we have no oil in the vessel? External works that give us the appearance of being true believers, so that we may mix with these and regard ourselves and be regarded by others as good Christians; — this sort of godliness which is not in truth the life of the Spirit in the heart, will, alas, prove a sad delusion at the last. By the oil in the vessel is meant the Spirit and life in the heart, the true life of faith and love; out of this proceeds the true light in deeds and conversation. Take heed that your fear of God be not an empty lamp. Do you in fact have the life of grace in your soul? Is it out of this, from within, that your deeds of piety proceed? Do you live in the Lord, and is his love in you? Does your heart beat with such tenderness for him, that you hasten to meet him with longing and joy when the cry is made: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh”? Is this your innermost thought: Lord Jesus, come quickly; thou, thou art he for whom I am looking and longing; my whole heart is thine in life and death; thou art my only own now and forevermore? — Even the wise virgins are affected in some measure by the drowsy breath of the times, and they slumber; but they are known herein, that, when their rest is disturbed, their hearts are with Jesus. He is their life, and his love is in truth the soul in all their deeds.
Lord Jesus, we earnestly beseech thee, that we may be among the wise virgins; suffer us never to fall into that sleep which is spiritual death. Make us whole and true in the faith; let it burn in our heart and be the light of our life until the end. Amen.*
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray,
From thy sleep awake thee,
Lest at last the evil day
Suddenly o’ertake thee:
For the foe, well we know,
Oft his harvest reapeth,
While the Christian sleepeth.
[TLH 446, LSB 663, ELH 253; listen below]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.