Matthew 25:1-13
Grace peace and mercy from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The gospel reading from Matthew may make you wonder what Jesus is trying to tell us. Is it as simple as be ready or be prepared for the coming of the bridegroom?
Again we are presented with the background of a wedding celebration in this parable. Unless you are aware of Middle Eastern wedding customs especially in the first century the ten virgins are distracting. What could they possibly have to do with the coming of the bridegroom?
Let's examine the wedding customs to better understand the message Jesus is conveying.
The bridegroom was expected to be established and have a home prepared for his bride. As a result it was common that the groom was older than the bride, perhaps 15 years or more. The brides were typically 14 to 18 years of age and probably didn't have much interaction with the groom prior to the wedding. It would only seem natural for the bride to have some trepidation if not outright fear of the events about to unfold. The bride would have her friends around her for encouragement and support as the wedding time approached.
For the groom it was a different story. He would be receiving a dowry along with the bride. The groom could not appear too hasty in receiving the dowry. He would take his time in getting to the in-laws house and could arrive at any time to claim his bride. When he did arrive the friends of the bride would accompany him in, in a lighted procession. When the procession entered the house the door was closed and no one else was allowed to enter.
Often marriages were about social mobility, large dowries might be on the line, but also the simple happiness of the couple. There were important things going on here on many levels. You can imagine this was a terrifying experience for the bride, all these things coming together and she was the focal point and within hours this man would take her to his home to be his wife. However the bride was not alone, she welcomes her husband in the relative safety of her friends. They will feast together, they will celebrate, and they will exchange their vows and promises, not only between the couple but also between their respective families.
As Jesus tells the parable, half of the virgins are foolish; they have not brought enough oil for their lamps. The wise virgins are not foolishly generous with their supply of oil rather they send the others off to get more in the market. While they are out haggling in the market for oil, the bridegroom comes, the party begins and the foolish virgins are excluded.
Let's focus our attention on the role of the virgins and the real problem of their absence. It is not just that they don't get to join in the festivities. Their absence is a critical loss for the bride in her moment of need. Their job is to support and encourage her. The foolish virgins are foolish because they are excluded, but more critically, they are foolish because their friend is without the support that she needs. They have lost their opportunity to play this important role in this most precious of days.
What can we say then about being ready? If the task of the virgins is to support and encourage their friend in her time of need then it seems rather obvious. We are ready when we are supporting and encouraging others.
Great so what does that mean? That we provide food and clothes for those less fortunate? That we give people help and guidance when they are down? That we share the good news of the gospel?
Actually it is all of the above and more. Whenever we provide for another we are providing for Jesus. Most important to remember here is that Jesus came for everyone not just those we deem as worthy to help.
In all of our readings today we are focused on eschatology, the end times.
Amos sees the situation in Israel through the lens of the covenant which God made with his people in the Torah, especially Deuteronomy. God had said that they were to worship only him, be his covenant people and he would bless them. If they neglected the covenant, then they would be punished and finally face the possibility of exile, separation from the land which God had promised to their fathers. This was not only a terrible hardship to endure but also a repudiation of the covenant itself, for the land was part of the original promise that God had made to Abraham.
Amos will find the symptoms of the covenant's health in the social situation of his day. The covenant had said that because they were the Lord's people they were to be different from the other nations, the widow, the poor, the orphan, the resident alien were supposed to be treated, respectfully. However the wealthy were not being respectful of the poor rather they were taking advantage of their plight. Amos is warning of misguided hopes that have distracted the people from the covenant with God. The problem is the broken relationship with God which has manifested itself in the social injustice of the time.
Paul's brief visit with the folks in Thessalonica left them with some unanswered questions. Remember he only had three weeks there according to Acts. You can see that he speaks quite simply to them. It appears that they had a question about the return of Jesus. It seems that they thought that those who died before Jesus came back were somehow lost; they had missed out on heaven.
Paul wants them to grieve, but not like other people grieve, hopelessly. He wants their grief to have the character of hope instilled within it. Those who have died will be raised and they will even precede us in glory. Notice, the end of the world is not bad news here, but good. Their loved ones will enjoy and see all that they get to see, even though now they are dead.
The end of the world is a matter of fear and consternation for many. They are afraid. And there is much to be afraid of. Perhaps doomsday seers are right about the climate. The economy is definitely causing much anxiety. The outcome of the election causes fear in some. Change sometimes is good and sometimes is bad. After all, death is a sort of change. And so, God calls on us, the Church, to be encouragers. You won't find in the list of various offices in the book of Ephesians anything about a prophet of gloom or apocalyptic woes. Even John, when he writes the book of Revelation does so to comfort his fearful people.
Distracted by the things of this world, and our own passions and conflicts, we lose sight of the mission to which we have been called. Our oil runs dry and we find ourselves unprepared for the arrival of the groom. The simple message that the one who comes is here now in word and sacrament to make us ready for that day is overwhelmed by the distractions of this world. Our lamps start to look empty and there is no light to shine.
Take heart we are made by the gracious and merciful love of Jesus into a mighty band of light wielding friends, the light of encouragement and hope. The woman who has heard the doctor say there is nothing more that can be done can hear from us that Jesus will do more. The impoverished man who has nothing to eat will know that Jesus has and will fill him when we break our sandwich in half and share our meal with him.
The light which precedes the arrival of Christ will shine brighter for every one of those marvelous moments of hope. He will see that light and be glad as he welcomes us into the wedding hall, to partake of wedding feasts and holy joy.
In the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
