Daily Archives: 8 November, 2026

Keeping Watch with Our Souls Awake. Reflection for marriages. Matthew 25:1-13

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From the Gospel according to Matthew 25:1–13

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.  Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Keeping Watch with Our Souls Awake

Kingdom of Heaven is the encounter with the Bridegroom. To prepare ourselves, we learn to walk in darkness, without relying on what we feel, awakening a heart that learns to:

Believe without seeing.

Trust without understanding what it hears.

Love without needing to feel a caress.

Remain faithful without tasting sweetness.

Recognise without perceiving His fragrance.

Five foolish virgins who seek to feel. Five wise virgins who choose to love. For keeping watch means keeping the oil of love burning, nurturing that intimacy with the Bridegroom which must be lived, not borrowed. What must die within me so that I can remain watchful?

Applied to Married Life

John (thinking to himself): Lord, here we go again! Maureen comes home exhausted, irritable, complaining about everything… I just can’t stand it! I don’t even feel like looking at her, listening to her or going near her. And on top of that, it seems as though everything bothers her! Why should I be the one to make the first move? Let her realise how she is treating me!

But, Lord… what if this is precisely when she needs me most? What if, behind her bad mood, there is an exhausted heart that simply needs to feel loved?

Help me, Lord! My senses are telling me to walk away, but I want to welcome You by welcoming Maureen. I cannot do this on my own. Have mercy on me. Give me Your eyes to see her, Your patience to listen to her and Your tenderness to embrace her, even when I don’t feel like it.

May my lamp not go out just when the Bridegroom arrives.

Lord, may my senses rest while my heart remains awake and watchful.

Mother,

Teach us to die to our senses so that we may be born anew in Your Son, who is the meaning and fulfilment of everything.

May He be blessed and praised for ever, for He redeemed us with His Precious Blood.