The Feast of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross | Wednesday 9 August 2023

Today is Wednesday the 9th of August, the feast of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, in the 18th week of Ordinary time.

Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum: My eyes are on the Lord God. Are my eyes on the Lord today? Am I ready to meet with God?

Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum
Like the deer that yearns for running streams
So my soul is yearning for my God
My tears have become my bread day and night
As I hear it said: ‘Where is your God?’
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum
By day the Lord will send His loving Spirit
By night I will sing praises to the God of my life
Send our Your light and Your truth as my guide
To lead me to Your holy ground
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum
Then shall I go to the God of my joy
Singing praise, praise on the lyre and the harp
Why so downcast my soul?
Put your hope and trust in my Saviour, my God
Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.


Matthew 25:1-13

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

We might have heard this parable so many times before. Did you hear anything afresh today?

Can you for a moment focus on the prize of the parable? Coming out to meet the Bridegroom…

‘…the door was shut’. “Lord, Lord, open to us!” Can you imagine for a moment what it would feel like to be shut out in this way?

As you listen again, imagine hearing someone shouting, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” Notice how you respond in your heart as you hear these words…

You might like to talk with the Lord now about what it’s like to run out to meet the bridegroom. Ask for what you need in order to ‘keep awake’ for this beautiful and joyful moment…


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.