In the Bible, in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, you will find the story of ten virgins waiting for a bridegroom to come. Half of them are ready. They have enough oil to keep their lamps lit, and they are prepared to wait through the full darkness of the night. The other half are not fully prepared, and have not come with enough oil to last through the night. When their oil runs out, they must leave their post to obtain more. During this time of absence, the bridegroom comes and those who are ready join him. Those who had to leave, return to find that they have missed the bridegroom.
This parable illustrates the need to be prepared and ready for the Christ. Being prepared enables us to daily express good and right ideas, and to take the necessary actions to fulfill God’s plan for us.
How do we do this? How do we prepare ourselves to notice the Christ? I like to start my day with studying the weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson. This opens my thought to be receptive to the ideas of the Christ that I may need throughout my day. It reminds me that God is in control of everything. It helps fill my “lamp” (my consciousness) with oil—with “heavenly inspiration” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 592). This “oil” illumines my path and opens my consciousness to see good all around me.
