EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2017 I began a new venture as a synodically authorized minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. The ride over the past 3 years has been an amazing journey of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on Nov. 4, 2020. This was the 29th digital service we performed after our church was shuttered because of the COVID pandemic.
So, here we are, Faith Family, after a long and raucous year, nearly 24 hours out from a national election, and there are still plenty of unanswered questions. There's anxiety and many, many political leaders are calling for patience and for peace. But what a difficult task for a people that has come to expect instantaneous results.
Need an answer: Google it. ... Need a fix-it video: Find it on YouTube, almost immediately. ... We have instant oil changes, and Instant Pots, and instant car loans and home loans online, and essentially a mini-computer at our fingertips at all times that seemingly has all of the answers.
And just like waiting for presidential election results, we have a hard time waiting for an answer as to just when it is that our bridegroom, our Christ, will return. Because, after all, that is exactly what this parable is about in the Gospel of Matthew. Through Jesus' telling of the story of the "wise" and the "foolish" bridesmaids, he is making a comparison to us, to his followers.
He is addressing those followers who were wise enough to bring along more than enough lamp oil in their flasks, but also speaking directly to those followers who didn't. It doesn't take a biblical scholar to figure out that Jesus in talking about his followers who are preparing a way in Christ's footsteps and those who are not. The foolish bridesmaids and the wise bridesmaids.
I'm not up on the customs of first century weddings, but I can tell you his admonition of those followers who aren't bringing more than enough lamp oil isn't kind. Go back and read that gospel and what he is telling them is that those who didn't bring their lamp oil are going to get locked out of the wedding banquet. Or in other words, we can construe that to mean getting locked out of heaven.
Now, this really isn't the loving, kind, compassionate Jesus whom we are used to in the gospels, is it? It seems a harsh message, but I think it's really important to understand the place in which this message is taking place -- the place this parable is taking place -- and it is in Matthew Chapter 25, meaning it is coming to the end of the gospel, and Jesus knows ... Jesus knows that his time is coming soon, as well. He will be arrested shortly after this gospel text. And so there is urgency. Jesus' days are drawing short, and he feels that his disciples should feel that urgency too.
In other words, what he is trying to tell those disciples through this parable is that we never know when the bridegroom is returning, and so we better not be the ones to fall drowsy and asleep and unprepared without our lamp oil. We better always be the ones who are prepared. We better always have more than enough lamp oil with us because we'll never know how much we need. ... Finally, we better always be living in Christ's footsteps as we never know when he will return.
But that really is the rub, isn't it?
Our gospels were written thousands of years ago by believers who really truly thought that Jesus was returning soon. At least, sometime within that first century after Christ's birth. They believed that they most likely be living when their savior came back.
And yet, here we sit. ... Some 2,000 years later. ... And we're still expected to mind our "Ps" and "Qs" ... all of the time. ... To carry enough lamp oil with us to last; in fact, more than enough lamp oil. ... To live out a Christ-like life, every day. ... All of the time. ... Or lest we get shut out of the wedding banquet.
Faith Family, we as a nation, have been living through some very contentious times. Starting months ago, we've been on edge from a pandemic that we can't control, from financial difficulties, from civil unrest, from political divisions. ... And I would guess that there will be even more contentious days ahead ... whomever is announced a winner in this election. But this political election, whether the candidates you voted for win or lose, does not give us an excuse to be without enough lamp oil. ... Or in other words, does not give us an excuse to behave badly.
Because as one of my favorite writers wrote this morning in a devotion that I started my day with: "In the end, politics is nothing more than an instrument of social good and human development. It is meant to be the right arm of those whose souls have melted into God."
Faith Family, in the coming days and weeks, if it's necessary, let's be those people whose souls have melted into God. ... Let's be those wise bridesmaids with enough lamp oil. ... In fact, more than enough. ... Let's be ever ready to meet Christ upon his return. And that means living a Christ-like life, even during the current anxious times.
And that is the Good News for this Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Sunday, Nov. 8, the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. ... Amen.
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