Thursday, November 06, 2014

Towards Sunday, Nov 9, 2014

Scripture:  Matthew 25:1-13
Sermon:  Oil shortage?

Commentators have trouble with how this parable ends -- with 5 of 10 maidens locked out of the wedding celebration because their friends wouldn't share their lamp oil with them, and by the time they get back the lord of the feast not opening the door for them, saying he doesn't know them.

Is that how Jesus works?  If the wedding feast is a metaphor for the final kingdom of heaven, and the maidens are an image of all of us, will Jesus be that aloof and the door that firmly shut against that half of us who are not prepared enough for the end?

If so, no wonder there is such a substratum of fear and anxiety to a lot of our faith.

But when Jesus talks about the kingdom of God and of heaven, is he always and only talking about the end of time -- whether history's end or our own personal end? 

Or is he also and maybe most deeply talking about the kingdom of God and of heaven that is with us every day, that is meant to be as near as our outstretched hand and our next breath, that is always just under the surface of the present moment waiting to appear?

In which case, this parable may be less about final judgement than about what we all experience all too often all through our life -- all those times and situations where we find ourselves on the outside looking in, not enjoying the celebration of life that others are enjoying, feeling excluded from the feast of life's promised goodness.

And the point of the parable may be to remind us what helps open the kingdom of God to us in this life -- namely, enough oil in our flasks -- oil which, in Jewish tradition, is an image of righteousness and good deeds of mercy, love and compassion. 

So ... if you want to be part of the kingdom of God in this life?  Be part of the grand celebration that God promises life on Earth to be? 

Worry less about whether your doctrine and theology are perfect ("Lord!  Lord!  I know your name perfectly!") and pay attention more to deeds of love, mercy and compassion ("Oh, it's you! Come in to the joy of your master!").


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