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Gospel Reading for August 28, 2026 – Matthew 25: 1-13
BE PREPARED
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
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Those who were Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts during their school days will probably remember how they were taught practical life skills to become strong, responsible, and productive members of their communities. Through camping, first aid, and nature exploration, they learned self-reliance, teamwork, and even survival skills.
More importantly, they were trained to live for others—to help people every day and contribute positively to society. They were also taught timeless moral values: honesty, integrity, responsibility, and respect for others. And they learned to think ahead, preparing for possible situations or emergencies so they would know the right thing to do when the time came.
That is why the official Scout motto is simple yet profound: “BE PREPARED.”
One might jokingly think that Jesus must have been a Boy Scout in his younger years because he spoke so often about being prepared. In reality, it was Jesus who inspired the Scouting movement founded by Lord Baden-Powell. Raised in a Christian family headed by a Church of England clergyman, Baden-Powell believed that Scouting had no separate “religious side.” Rather, the entire movement was rooted in faith, the service of God, and service to others.
And yes, in the Kingdom of Heaven, one of the most important things we must remember is this: BE PREPARED.
To BE PREPARED is to live each day according to the teachings of Jesus. It means nurturing a heart that is always ready to meet him, whenever he comes. We would be foolish to rely on someone else for our own preparedness, because at the final judgment, it will be just God and each one of us.
Lord Jesus, may we always be prepared for your coming, whenever that day or hour may be. Amen.
