"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
This kind of parable makes me think of waiting for the toaster. It never pops when you are watching it, but as soon as you turn and look elsewhere that's when the spring lets go and up comes the toast. However, the meaning of this parable is to be watching for the coming of the Bridegroom. It is when they least expect him that he arrives, and when he does the bridesmaids who had their lamps lit and enough oil were fortunate enough to be welcomed to the banquet.
We might be tempted to think that watching means doing nothing else, but watching and waiting. I do not think that is what we are suppose to understand here. Watching also involves doing things that help us and others be ready for the arrival of the one we are waiting for. Up to this point we have been hearing about Jesus welcoming the stranger, the outcast and the those whom society and the religious authorities have left on the sidelines. Jesus has fed four to five thousand people many of whom are in favor of the ordination of women, or who support same-sex marriage. Jesus even saw the great faith of the Canaanite woman who helped him see that his own attitudes needed to be changed to accommodate another group of people who had been denigrated by the religion of his time.
Keeping enough oil to keep our lamps lit can be symbolic of our own willingness to allow the Gospel message of inclusion to keep changing ourselves, society and the Church so that when Jesus comes to welcome us to the reign of God, we will truly be ready along with everyone else who has been made ready. It would be a real embarrassment for the reign of God to come now with all of that oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico with all of the dead animals, the people who have lost their beaches, careers, tourism, clean water, clean rain and personal security. The Church of England has been discussing and debating the ordination of women as Bishops, with the Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals ready to split the C of E if women Bishops are ordained. If Jesus were to come in the middle of a controversy like that, how would the lamp of oil look to him? The Country of Uganda is considering their anti-homosexuality bill. How or what does Jesus think of a bill that if passed could mean life in prison or the death penalty for known homosexuals? What does the lamp of oil look like to Jesus in world or Church where only those who are white, male, heterosexual, unchallenged and upper class get all the breaks and/or get to make the rules? Would Jesus warn the State of Arizona about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah over their anti-immigration law?
Keeping the lamps well lit with lots of oil to keep the flame burning, is also symbolic of allowing our hearts and lives to be a glow with the possibility of allowing our own hearts to be broken for those who are poor, denigrated, discriminated against, and thrown away. We must all learn to see in each person a daughter or son of God who has been put on this earth because they have been loved in to being. Whether they are black, Native American, Caucasian, Asian, Middle Eastern or any other race, color or class. Whether an individuals is lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, transgendered or questioning. Whether a person can do nothing or everything. Whether an individual is part of the Christian religion or not. Every person exists in this world to give something very special and unique to it. Within that individual is the very image and likeness of the Eternal God. Serving that individual is to serve God. When certain members of humankind are excluded and/or denigrated, it is an insult to God who created that individual out of God's gracious love. Are we keeping the lamp of inclusion lit? Or are we keeping the lamp lit just for ourselves, while others are kept in total darkness?
The very fact that we are here today, means that we have the opportunity to keep our lamps lit with plenty of oil. We are being blessed and supported at this very hour to work towards the full inclusion of all people in God's reign. God so wants everyone to be happy with God and God's chosen people. If we do not make the effort to tell others about how much God loves them in Jesus Christ, and accepts them the way they are, only to give love and freedom to their lives, then we might as well turn out the lights. No one is going to be at home.
Keeping our lamps lit also means being a people and a Church of radical welcome with a sense and desire to be about the ministry of reconciliation and healing. Keeping watch for the coming of the reign of God means allowing the opportunity for forgiveness, justice and peace to happen for everyone. How are we fulfilling that today?
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and may also have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 10, Book of Common Prayer, Page 231).
O God, the creator and preserver of all, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto them, your saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. (Prayer for All Sorts and Conditions, Book of Common Prayer, Page 814).
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