The Bridegroom Took Those Who Were Ready

Reading today’s Gospel from Matthew 25:1-13 is a reminder that with each passing day I get closer and closer to the time when I will get a chance to meet the bridegroom. I know He is coming (that’s for certain) but I do not know neither the day nor the hour. I’m told to stay awake for when the bridegroom does come, only those who are ready will be the ones who get to go to His wedding feast.

Are you ready? It’s a question that echoes in my mind to recall how many times I probably asked this of my wife or one of my children as we were getting ready to go to church or some social event. It didn’t take too long for me to shower, shave and get dressed so I was the one who was ready first and had to wait. Are you ready and are we there yet were two common questions oft heard when my sons were small. Now this is all changed and I think the roles have been reversed and now they are the ones who ask me if I’m ready.

So now as I read, “the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him,” I think of the following Bob Dylan lyrics;

 

Are you ready, are you ready?
Are you ready, are you ready?

Are you ready to meet Jesus?
Are you where you ought to be?
Will He know you when He sees you
Or will He say, "Depart from Me”?

Are you ready, hope you're ready
Am I ready, am I ready?
Am I ready, am I ready?

Am I ready to lay down my life for the brethren
and to take up my cross?
Have I surrended to the will of God
Or am I still like the boss?

Am I ready, hope I'm ready?

When the destruction cometh swiftly
and there's no time to say a fare-thee-well
Have you decided whether you want to be
In heaven or in hell?

Are you ready, are you ready?

Have you got some unfinished business?
Is there something holding you back?
Are you thinking for yourself
Or are you following the pack?

Are you ready, hope you're ready
Are you ready?

Are you ready for the judgement?
Are you ready for that terrible swift sword?
Are you ready for Armageddon?
Are you ready for the day of the Lord?

Are you ready, I hope you're ready?

"We are always getting ready to live but never living."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson