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A WORD FROM THE PASTOR
Do You Have Enough Oil?
What shall we do while we wait for the Lord? The answer is: "Make sure you have enough oil for your lamps!"
What does it mean?
- It stands for our personal relationship with God. It is not something that one can attain overnight or borrow from someone else as the foolish virgins attempted to do. This "state of grace" is something we must receive from God personally and directly.
- In Scripture, oil is often a symbol for the Holy Spirit. It is when we submit our work, our intentions, our purpose to the Holy Spirit that he fills our deeds with power and effectiveness.
- Oil stands for character and Christian values which we cannot borrow – or buy. It refers to the way we do or do not live the virtuous life that God freely empowers us to live. You cannot "borrow" these virtues at the last moment; you must "live" them. It's a reminder that we can never use the excuse - "no one told me."
- Oil also stands for "spiritual capital" (our merits) – all that we build up by good works.
What is the "oil" that we lack? Oil in the Scriptures is often a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Do I submit my works to the Holy Spirit? Do I lack the oil of kindness and compassion? Do I lack the oil of patience and sympathy? Am I short of the oil of religious education and instruction in the faith? We need to have the oil of being in the state of grace. If not, I am empty. I do not have enough oil - a state of mortal sin.
(Excerpt from the article "Victory Goes to Those Who are Prepared" in the November 8, 2020 bulletin.)
In the Service of the Lord,
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