December 21st, 2023
Scripture
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women 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 young women 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 young women 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.
--Matthew 25:1-13
Reflection
My team of Ministry Partners and I have been dwelling with this text all of November and December. Sometimes we have been dwelling against it. It is such an enigmatic parable. Why can’t the bridesmaids simply share their oil? Why is the groom so delayed? What kind of wedding is this that starts at midnight? Why were the bridesmaids who had to get more oil not let in? If the importance of the parable is to stay awake, didn’t the wise bridesmaids fall asleep, just like the so-called foolish ones? In our tradition that has placed so much emphasis on inclusion and welcome, this parable excludes and leaves half the bridesmaids out in the cold. Yet, as we returned to the parable week by week, we came to accept, however reluctantly, its premises.
There is a light I must keep, and no one else can keep it for me.
It is not my light. It is by and for Christ. We receive this light freely, but the keeping of it matters. Keeping it filled and keeping the wick trimmed is something we must do, and we can only keep our own light.
When I was ordained, a friend gave me a first century Judean oil lamp, a little more than two inches in diameter, simple clay, with a small reservoir and a small hole for the wick—the smallness of it is its most striking feature. It would fit in the palm of your hand. You would need to fill it and to trim the wick, several times a day. It would give just enough light for you.
The nature of waiting for Christ is that we will always be surprised. No one knows the day or the hour, not even the Son. Lots of people have their ideas; there are false messiahs everywhere. Jesus is clear, don’t listen to them. The how and the when are hidden from us. It will come like a thief in the night, or a long-delayed bridegroom. Confounding our expectations is always a theme of our sacred stories.
Keeping hope is the one job we have. The foolish neglect this and let theirs burn out and run dry. The wise are vigilant about this one task. How are your hope reserves? How do you feed them? Is your oil flask full? It’s not too late, not yet. but the time is nigh. Will your light be burning to greet the groom?
The Rev. Canon Steve Carlsen
Canon for Congregational Vitality
Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma