12-Nov-23 (Matthew 25:1-13)

Have you ever had to wait for something. You know it's going to happen soon. You just don't know when. So you have to wait. It's not easy, is it? [Wait for answers]
Jesus said that waiting for Christ's rule to fully happen is like that. He said it's like some people preparing for a wedding, waiting for the groom to show up and it's late at night. Some of them get tired and go to sleep. Some of them used their flashlights and when the bridegroom showed up, the batteries were dead. They just weren't prepared.
We may have to wait for a long time for Christ's rule to fully happen. We'll see things going right over here, but there are some some things going not so right over here. We may have to wait a long time. But, as we're waiting, we have to continue to love God and love other people. If we don't, we won't be ready.
Let's talk to God about that.

God, we thank you for Jesus, who showed us how to love you and love other people. Even when it seems like we're not getting any closer to your rule fully happening, help us to keep on following you by loving God and loving others just like Jesus.
We pray in Jesus' name.
AMEN.