“Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.”
(Matthew 25:2-4)

Matthew 25:1-13 

We need a certain level of preparedness as we await that awareness of God’s presence and his transformation of our societies. It is possible to be both foolish and wise in the way we go about this.

While it is true that God is the one who reaches out to us, it is also true that we have a role to play in the relationship. As we search and wait for God, we are invited to do so in such a way that we will be able to receive him when he comes. We need to be a little bit savvy in the way that we wait.

What are the wise ways to wait for God? Building a habit of daily prayer, cultivating silence in our lives, and reading and reflecting on and about the Word of God may all help us tune our hearts to God’s frequency. Being a part of a Christian community, investing in friendships that build us up, and serving the poor and marginalised help us to better anticipate and recognise God’s Kingdom.

What are the foolish ways to wait for God? Endless hours of mindless scrolling on social media (I am very guilty of this) and never making time for silence or the Word of God may cause our minds to be troubled and distracted. Having self-centred relationships and never investing time in others makes us blind to the Kingdom.

What are the ways in which I tend to be foolish in my search for God? How can I be more wise?

Reflections by Sean van Staden SJ

Visit our website