Hi friends, I'm Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, the miracles. So here is how it works. I'll read three chapters to you. You can listen or read along in your own Bible or online, and then I'll pray, and that's it. Today is day nine, and I'll be reading

Matthew chapters 25 and 26. And this month, I'm reading from the CSB version.

Matthew 25. At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps

and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. When the foolish took

their lamps, they didn't take oil with them, but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps.

When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, there was a shout, here's the groom. Come out to meet him. Then all the

virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise ones, give us some of your

oil because our lamps are going out. The wise ones answered, no, there won't be enough for us and for you. Go instead to

those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves. When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived,

and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet and the door was shut. Later, the

rest of the virgins also came and said, master, master open up for us. He replied, truly, I tell you, I don't know you.

Therefore be alert because you don't know either the day or the hour. For it is just like a man

about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

To one, he gave five talents, to another two talents and to another one talent depending on each one's ability.

Then he went on a journey. Immediately the man who had received five talents went, put them to work,

and earned five more. In the same way, the man with two earned two more. But the man who had

received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. After a long time,

the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five talents

approached, presenting five more talents, and said, master, you gave me five talents. See, I've

earned five more talents. His master said to him, well done, good and faithful servant. You are

faithful over a few things. I will put you in

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