Pentecost 26a Prepare for Christ Mt. 25:1-13 11/9/08
These stained glass windows on the west side of the Sanctuary come from our old church, erected here in the forties during WW II. Among them is the image of a lamp with a flame emerging from it. The University of California has something similar in its logo, as do other institutions.
Theologians dispute whether the lamp mentioned in this Gospel lesson carried by the ten bridesmaids was actually a lamp or a torch. But the point is that they were symbolic of preparing for the return of the Bride Groom: that is Christ, the husband of the church which is his bride.
The question that emerges from this lesson is whether or not you will be prepared for Christ’s return. Will you be among the foolish who took their lamps, but with no oil in them, or more like the wise, who had enough? The message then is Prepare for Christ. And within the lesson we find how to do so.
We do this, first, as we Make Provision for his return. I was at a grocery store the other day and on a large poster on the wall near the check out it showed a listing of things one must have for seven days in the event of a disaster. One must have on hand plenty of potable water, fruits and vegetables and meats, batteries, flashlights, a radio and so on. You get the picture. Here, the women who were most prepared are those who have oil in their lamps or with their lamps.
Now what is the meaning of – this oil? Some have suggested it references the Christian’s good deeds as they await the return of Christ. Even Martin Luther who stoutly reminded believers of salvation by grace through faith and not on account of works suggests that this ample provision of oil, may well be the good works of Christians as they await the return of Christ. As Matthew reminds us, “Men do not light a lamp and put it under a bushel but rather on a stand and it gives light to all who are in the house; let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven.”
So it is, as we await Christ’s return to this earth, we continue to live like Christians. We do not pattern ourselves after the world. We do not make Provision for the flesh, as Paul tells us. We do not live in despair and dejection but rather we carry light in our soul, our heart, our eyes that others may see that we are Christians. We abound in fruits of the Spirit, even when all around us is evil and lovelessness – fruits which Paul describes in Galatians as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These fruits of the Spirit show up in us as people in a posture of readiness for Christ’s return and may well be representative of the oil in the lamp that some had and some did not have.
Now, others have suggested that this provision of oil refers more to God’s Word. As it says in Psalms: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Like oil inside of a flask or torch, it is poured into us as we read our Bibles and listen to the Pastor’s message. “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee,” also says the Psalmist.
This word speaks clearly to us today and in the days of Advent ahead of us of Christ’s certain second coming. We all saw in the corner of the TV advertisements supporting the recent television ad for the constitutional amendment affirming marriage, the image and words of S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsome with a sarcastic: “Like it Or Not.” Well, the same is true of Christ’s return for all who would upset God’s natural law and for all of us . . . “Like it or not.” Such is the certainty of this word: “From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.” God’s Word reveals this truth to us and it is indisputable. Though there be scoffers as the Bible promises, this truth cannot be changed: “He will come to judge the living and the dead.”
So convinced of this truth was St. Paul that he used it in an intimate sermon to the Roman ruler Felix. We read in Acts 24:25 “as Paul argued about morals and self control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and told Paul to leave until another occasion.” Felix the secular Roman ruler was gripped by the power of God’s word of a coming judgment – the bridegrooms return.
Yes, this is indeed a certain word that we would well be prepared for and make provision for by hearing his word about a time to come. For it is coming sooner than we think. Paul writing to Timothy reminds him that the last days will be times of stress, that people will be fierce, lovers of self, abusive, ungrateful, inhuman, and implacable. (1 Tim. 3) That is, impossible to please. What do we see gathered there in Los Angeles and elsewhere – in these days following the election than marching crowds of people impossible to please, refusing to accept the vote of the people. In addition, Paul reminds us that this Word of Christ will go out to all the nations, and then the end will come. Are we that far from the day, when on account of technology and the like, no nation or tribe will not have somehow been reached with this Word of the Gospel?
If so, then continue to make Provision for that day! Abide in Christ and in his word. Let your life of good works continue to shine. Condoleeza Rice, Sec. of State recently said after another failure of Peace talks in Israel and Palestine that Peace will not come in a sudden and dramatic event, but rather gradually.” Not so this second coming of Christ. It is an act of God confronting us as something from the other side, catching us unprepared, surprising us like a thief in the night. His perfect reign of peace and joy will come with a shout and the noise of a trumpet. Here it caught the foolish bridesmaids completely unprepared. The bridegroom approaches while the foolish maidens sleep.
Conrad Lehndorff writes in his East Prussian Diary, that the housewives still did their housework and their Easter baking and the theaters continued to show movies while the Soviet army, near but as yet undetected, launched its deadly pincers movement. “We go to work in the morning and sit in front of our TVs in the evening. But in history’s other rooms,” German Theologian Helmut Thielicke writes, “the table is already being set for the royal wedding feast, and the trumpets of the final judgment are slowly being raised.”
Shall we not then like the wise bridesmaids be well prepared for this as we make provision for that day -- remaining in God’s Word as our lamp and our light before our feet and continue to live the Christian life of love, peace, and joy as an example to others?
Secondly as we prepare for Christ’s coming, we not only make Provision, but we also make for Protection. Here the wise bridesmaids secured their grip on eternal life and their relationship to the heavenly bridegroom as they were protective of what they had secured for themselves. We read that as the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy (not just the foolish ones) and then the shout came: “He is here.” Come out to meet him. Desperate, the foolish bridesmaids asked of the others, some of their oil. But the wise replied: “No! There will not be enough for you and for us. . Go yourselves and buy some from the dealers.”
Their action seems almost selfish for Christians who are taught to share and share alike, to turn the other cheek. But sometimes, so as to make for our eternal Protection, we must say no. When the immigrants on the California Trail in the 1840’s reached the worst part of that trail, the Humboldt sink where there was no water for fifty miles, they would encounter wagon trains broken down and people desperate for food and provision, and yet the unwritten law, though difficult, was to keep moving. If you stop to share and help, neither of you will make it.
Yes, there comes a time, where the Christian, in order to secure their identity in Christ, must protect themselves; they must draw in their resources and not spread their wings over others so thinly that they do not survive. The wise bridesmaids said “No.” When did you dear Christian, so as to protect your soul investment, say No, even when it seemed such an honorable and empathetic thing to say yes? It is not always a selfish thing to say no, but rather the best means to which we can retain our spiritual strength and watchfulness for the coming One.
As we look through the Scriptures we find even our Lord saying No. As he began his ministry, the devil tempted him with all kinds of sights and promises, but to each he said No. He protected his father’s eternal investment in himself by turning aside from worldly pursuits and friends, saying no. As he went to the cross he said no as well to his own wishes and said “Not my will, but thine be done.” Jesus Christ gave up everything, saying no even to having home, to having spouse, to his own family, to seizing on his own self importance as being equal with God. This is your task as well dear Christian, to start saying No again, even to that which seems helpful and supportive in building the church itself. Had the wise bridesmaids given what they had, and did not say no, neither group would have had enough. How then by saying no, to sin, self and even to seemingly holy and on the surface, godly things, can you help make Protection for yourself and so Prepare for Christ’s return?
Lastly let us make, in addition to Provision, and Protection, let us make Praises! What were the bridesmaids waiting for but for a wedding banquet to happen? Now, if you look back on all the different social occasions you have been to, how often is sadness or grief or sorrow connected with a wedding reception? Now yes, if you are paying for it, particularly so. But the wedding banquet here conjures up images of a truly festive occasion of eating and drinking and much socialization. Such is the image that we are taught of heaven. Paul writes in Thessalonians today: “we do not grieve as others who have no hope. Through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. Then we will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” You and I have the encouragement of a heaven to look forward to. We will one day hear the cry of command, the archangel’s call and the sound of God’s trumpet. The dead shall rise. Christ will come.
One morning as I was reading my devotions which includes a Psalm or two, I said, “Lord, which Psalm shall it be today?” The pages fell open to Psalm 148: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him all his angels, praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted.” Now in my version there was an exclamation point at the end of each verse – whether or not there was such a punctuation mark in the original, I don’t believe so. But who can read these words without adding such a punctuation mark! Who can live life as a Christian without knowing and appreciating that life ends with a punctuation mark and not a question mark? The bridegroom will return and on account of faith take us to that heavenly dwelling place where there is only joy; only joy. Helmut Thielicke reminds us “As God spoke his creative words, “Let there be” in the beginning, so at the end of time he will have the heavenly host sing the great closing chorale and show himself as the all in all, under whose footstool all demonic forces lie down.”
This is the day history is moving toward – that God is moving toward – the fullness of our redemption by Christ. Shall we not insure our readiness for that return by Making Provision for it in Work and Word, Making Protection for it by saying no to the things of the flesh and that which only depletes us? Finally shall we not prepare for it by Making praise, even as we are doing and will continue to do so, here - today, and every day, forever world without end. Even so, “Come Lord Jesus.” Amen.
