12th November 2023 Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 25:1–13
1 ‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 9 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.” 10 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. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” 12 But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Reflection:
The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, or Ten Virgins as it is often called, has an interesting setting, one which is familiar to most of us: the setting of a wedding celebration. Everyone loves a wedding. The anticipation of the day, the joy of dressing in special clothes, the excitement of being part of the celebration. In the parable, the ten bridesmaids were actually participants in the wedding. They are dressed and waiting. This unique setting of the parable has great significance. There are several good reasons why the second coming of the Lord Jesus should be described here in the form of a wedding celebration.
Firstly, marriage fittingly represents the close relationship that exists between Jesus Christ and His church. God has chosen the highest and closest of all human relationships - the marriage relationship - to describe our bond with Him. Christ is the Husband or groom, and the church is the Wife or Bride of Christ.
When I am privileged to facilitate a wedding ceremony, I am always struck by the intensity of love and commitment that is so apparent between the bride and the groom.
I think another reason why Christ's return is like a wedding day, is that marriage is an event that is marked by happiness and rejoicing. This is why the Chinese word for marriage is 'double happiness'. In some other cultures, the wedding celebration can go on for days. The colour and proliferation of dress, tradition, are significant and have dep meaning. For example, in Mexico, during the wedding ceremony, as a Mexican couple exchange their vows, a ‘lazo” or “lasso”, made from rosary beads and flowers is draped around their shoulders in the shape of a figure eight. Not only does “ell azo” represent the union of the couple, but its shape also resembles the infinity symbol, signifying just how long they are hoping the marriage will last.
When we are invited to a wedding, we can see and experience the happiness of the bride's and groom's families, so warmly expressed in all the smiles, tears, hugs, handshakes, and the often-lavish expenses for the wedding decorations and dinner. But of course, no happiness on the wedding day can be greater than that of the bride and groom, for this is the day they’ve been so genuinely waiting for!
So considering all this, we can understand it is fitting that Jesus uses the occasion of a wedding to get his message across. It’s a message of the ultimate joy that is to come when the bridegroom arrives and meets the bride.
In the same way, we like the bridesmaids, should be earnestly expecting and waiting for the joyous day when Christ will come. In a real sense, the day of his return will be a 'wedding day' for us, the day when we will be forever in the presence of our beloved Redeemer and we will enter into the eternal Joy of our Lord. Like the Mexican wedding ritual suggests, this will be for infinity. For we who are redeemed by Christ, there is no greater happiness than to be in the eternal presence of our Lord and Saviour.
Christ's return is like a wedding day for us in that it involves our making preparations for it. We are all aware of all the elaborate preparations that can often go into a wedding. How much more then should we be putting into preparing for the day we meet our heavenly God of love.
Be mindful and aware, that those who do not prepare themselves adequately for marriage may find themselves having problems soon. And that’s the lesson we can learn from the five foolish bridesmaids who were caught short- unprepared and with no time to fix their lack.
Whenever I hear this parable, I question why the other bridesmaids couldn’t share their oil? I mean they had prepared and had enough- most likely plenty, why didn’t they just help out and give the foolish ones a little help.
But there is more hidden in this parable, for you see I wonder if the oil is produced by all the goodness, the prayer, the spiritual growth and discipline of living a godly life and drawing close to our Lord. Is this what fills our lamp with oil. Throughout the years prior these wise bridesmaids had abided with the Lord, they had done good deeds, had abided in the Word and sought to love and obey God with all their heart, all their soul and all their mind. They had followed Jesus, obeyed God and loved their neighbour as themselves. This is what had filled their lamps and this is how their light was shining.
They couldn’t share their oil because this oil was the result of who they were, their personal faith and their continued adoration of the Lord while they were waiting.
In contrast, the foolish bridesmaids had squandered their opportunities and not stored up for themselves the gift of God. They had disregarded the teaching and instruction of scripture and as a result, when the bridegroom arrived it was too late! …. This is pretty serious teaching.
Many in our world today have given up waiting. They have been unfaithful, seeking worldly pleasure, having no time to allow Jesus to live in them or to offer him any honour. They have shut the door of their heart and one day they will be shut out themselves. There are also many who profess Christ as Lord but have no desire to fully live for him. They hold to their old ways and think they will have time to make things right when they come to end of their life.
The reality is that none of us know when the Lord will return. We cannot rely on the good works of others to fill our lamp. None of us know when we will meet him and be called to account to him. So, here’s the thing, the encouragement, the challenge- to think about and seriously consider. How do you fill your lamp and keep it full. As I said last week - When it comes down to the bottom line, what is it that you hold onto as most important? Who or what do you worship? How does that impact who you are and how you live? So, how do you fill your lamp and keep it full.
We are called to love God with all that we are and our neighbour as ourselves. Thus, Paul prays that the people will continue to love one another and all people and that the Holy Spirit will so strengthen the people’s hearts in holiness that they may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
This parable about waiting for the Bridegroom’s coming teaches us essential lessons about spiritual preparedness. Just as the wise bridesmaids were ready for the bridegroom's arrival, we must be spiritually prepared for the return of Christ. We cannot rely on the faith or preparation of others; we must each carry our own oil, embodying a strong and enduring faith.
Therefore, let us be vigilant, staying awake, and nurturing our spiritual preparedness by our relationship with God through prayer, Scripture, and good works. Let us live our lives in a manner that reflects our readiness to meet our Lord and Saviour whenever He may come. And I pray, that your lamp may be full and your life be blessed and that you may be always ready. For this is where you will find fullness of joy as you are dressed and prepared when the bridegroom comes in all his glory. Amen.