May we together have enough oil in the vessels of our souls, so that, not wasting the time of rewards in buying more, we may sing, “Bless the Lord, O works of the Lord.”

Holy Monday Bridegroom Service

Next week is Holy Week for Orthodox Christians. During the first three days of Holy Week – beginning with Monday (Sunday_, we hear one of the most solemn sober mystical moving and beautiful hymns of the Church year…. “Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching“. It is a hymn based on the parable of the wise virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. Our Mother the Church always draws our hearts and minds to the timeless steadfast wisdom truth of what is needful. Monastics always remind us that to live in the present moment and to live in remembrance of our death is a great gift… not a sorrowful morose outlook, but rather a sober yet joy filled Heavenly Kingdom centered focus.

According to the Orthodox Study Bible, the parable of the wise virgins is about the virtue of preparedness and charity and almsgiving. It is also about the Second Coming, and “the impossibility of changing one’s state of virtue after death” (Orthodox Study Bible Footnotes). Being watchful and ready. Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find watching.

The wise virgins are those who practice charity and mercy in this life, while the foolish are those who squander God’s gifts on themselves…

Footnotes: Orthodox Study BIble

The oil of our lamps is the oil of Faith and the vessel of the lamp is our very soul. It is the oil of faith, of virtue, of gladness, of mercy, of forgiveness, of love, of repentance of prayer and thanksgiving – devotion to God the Father through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Holy fuel… ever lighting the wicks of the hearts of Orthodox Christians – the Paschal flame dispelling darkness. “Come receive the Light that is never overtaken by night... ” like the Paschal candle, Christians are called to walk in the world not of the world, with the Paschal flame not hidden under a lamp but visible and touchable – like the Paschal candles we soon light and spread illumining and spreading through our Churches – we are not saved alone, because we are the members of the Body of Christ.

Come glorify Christ Who is risen from the dead!”  As we walk the arduous coming journey with Christ through Holy Week,waving palm crosses and singing Hosanna in the Highest at His humble Entry into Jerusalem; pouring fragrant mhyrr upon him and kissing His soon to be bruised feet, sitting with Him at His “take eat this is my body and blood which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins” Last Supper; the betrayal of one who did not repent, His passion, beating and bent crown of thorns placed upon His head scourging; His voluntary death on the Cross, to His glorious “death trampling down death” Resurrection. May our walk be Lenten and blessed. May we be lentenly blessed and rejoice in His glorious resurrection. Kalo Pascha. Καλό Πάσχα! Blessed Pascha.