Sermon - 2014-11-09
Today as we gather together and hear this parable, we may be left scratching our heads going, “Huh?” I have no idea what Jesus is trying to say or do within this parable. And you would be right. What’s happening here is something that does not happen anymore, and especially is not done within our culture. Does that mean that we should just ignore the parable and go on to the next reading? No.
The very core of this parable is all about waiting. I am not talking about waiting in line at the DMV or waiting in line for food. But something that you really, really know is going to be a good thing. Something that you will treasure and can not seem to live without. Perhaps a better parable for our modern times within the marriage theme would be the longing look between the bride and groom. You know as the other bridesmaids and groomsmen enter into the church, that the bride and groom will be able to see each other for the first time. They will be united for a lifetime.
However, even in this process there are signs for us to see, because we have seen them before. These signs help us to know what will happen, when it will happen, and our suspense builds. Our own excitement begins to build with the anticipation of the arrival and the happiness that we share with the couple that day. Yet in our own waiting, sometimes things do not go according to our own time. We see the signs, but they are spread out. They take longer from one to the next and we begin to be frustrated. We begin to demand that things happen faster to the point where we can get angry.
Then what about those five wise and unwise bridesmaids? How does that translate into our modern world? Because that is part of the parable that really does not make sense and even seems counter to the Christian gift when we think of the groom as being Jesus Christ. Isn’t that who we are waiting for? You are right, but let’s also admit that even this kind of waiting and preparation can be hard to sustain. That we can grow weary in our work, frustrated by the lack of outcomes we see, or distracted by the thousand and one other obligations that fill each of our lives. In short, let’s admit that on any given day, each of us may discover we are a foolish bridesmaid. Given this reality, let’s reclaim church as a place where we can find help and support in our waiting – all kinds of waiting! – and support as we try to live our Christian life.
For it is our role as the church to stand and wait together, the foolish and the wise. We gather together to support one another. Yet as we gather, we have with the groom a calling and a relationship in which we must also do our part. In our Baptism, God calls us by name and reminds us of how we can keep our faith with God. We have work to do and share so that we are prepared for the groom, for our Savior and Lord to return among us, and welcome us to the Feast that has no end.
The very core of this parable is all about waiting. I am not talking about waiting in line at the DMV or waiting in line for food. But something that you really, really know is going to be a good thing. Something that you will treasure and can not seem to live without. Perhaps a better parable for our modern times within the marriage theme would be the longing look between the bride and groom. You know as the other bridesmaids and groomsmen enter into the church, that the bride and groom will be able to see each other for the first time. They will be united for a lifetime.
However, even in this process there are signs for us to see, because we have seen them before. These signs help us to know what will happen, when it will happen, and our suspense builds. Our own excitement begins to build with the anticipation of the arrival and the happiness that we share with the couple that day. Yet in our own waiting, sometimes things do not go according to our own time. We see the signs, but they are spread out. They take longer from one to the next and we begin to be frustrated. We begin to demand that things happen faster to the point where we can get angry.
Then what about those five wise and unwise bridesmaids? How does that translate into our modern world? Because that is part of the parable that really does not make sense and even seems counter to the Christian gift when we think of the groom as being Jesus Christ. Isn’t that who we are waiting for? You are right, but let’s also admit that even this kind of waiting and preparation can be hard to sustain. That we can grow weary in our work, frustrated by the lack of outcomes we see, or distracted by the thousand and one other obligations that fill each of our lives. In short, let’s admit that on any given day, each of us may discover we are a foolish bridesmaid. Given this reality, let’s reclaim church as a place where we can find help and support in our waiting – all kinds of waiting! – and support as we try to live our Christian life.
For it is our role as the church to stand and wait together, the foolish and the wise. We gather together to support one another. Yet as we gather, we have with the groom a calling and a relationship in which we must also do our part. In our Baptism, God calls us by name and reminds us of how we can keep our faith with God. We have work to do and share so that we are prepared for the groom, for our Savior and Lord to return among us, and welcome us to the Feast that has no end.
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