As I thought about the 10 bridesmaids waiting for the delayed bridegroom in Sundays’ Gospel lesson (Matthew 25:1-13), a long-ago love song by Connie Francis ran through my mind.  “I will wait for you…For a 1,000 summers I will wait for you…Forevermore, I will wait for you.”

It’s been about 2,000 summers since Jesus told the parable of his return and we are stilling waiting, or are we?  When I was in school I wished that Jesus would return when final exams loomed, and term papers were due.  But otherwise, I don’t spend much time watching and waiting.

And yet, scripture is all about God’s coming.  From His coming to create the heavens and earth, to his choosing Abraham; rescuing Israel from slavery in Egypt; returning them from exile in Babylon; His coming in the flesh in Jesus; to his resurrection; the promise of his return; to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, to our baptism; to his promise at the end of Revelation, “Surely, I am coming soon.”

We are waiting in readiness when we trust in and live by, “The grace of our Lord Jesus…”  Throughout all our summers and winters.