Readiness: Holy Tuesday (Question 4 of 9)

Readiness: Holy Tuesday

Each day of Holy Week, on the road to Resurrection, we are presented with a question which only you, and you alone, can answer.

On Tuesday of Holy Week, the Armenian Church recounts a parable offered by Jesus, known as the “Parable of the 10 Maidens” (Matthew 25). The guests of a wedding celebration are awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom. As the sun sets guests are left in the dark. Half of them have come prepared with lanterns filled with oil, while the others have exhausted their resources. Jesus refers to these guests as “foolish” for their lack of preparedness. Jesus says, “The foolish guests said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’” The foolish guests had to leave the gathering in order to purchase more oil. While they were gone, the bridegroom came. The wise guests entered while the foolish ones, as a consequence of their unpreparedness, were left outside of the wedding feast.

The bridegroom alludes to Christ and the celebration is being in Christ’s presence. Preparation for this “feast” is to be wise, that is to always be prepared. Jesus concludes the parable with the words, “because you do not know the day or the hour.”

While yesterday’s question challenged us to look within and identify the change we are looking for, on this fourth day on the road to Resurrection, we are being questioned, Are you ready for the change that comes with the Christ presence?

Tomorrow: The Christ Presence