Proper 27 year A RCL

November 9, 2008

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus said, "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."

Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen.

At our Wednesday Bible Study Roger identified “preparedness” as the theme of this week’s Gospel lesson. I think that is insightful because other people might see this parable as some apocalyptic warning about the importance of making a commitment to Christ before “it is TOO late.” This too late fear is exactly what the parable warns against. Do not fear that Christ will suddenly come any moment now. The fact is that Christ has been delayed by his own choice so that as many people as possible can come to know God. Sure, Christ will come again eventually, but no one knows the day nor the hour. To speculate when Christ is coming is foolishness. To be prepared for when he comes is the point.

What this parable asks me is how do I maintain my dedication to Christ over the long haul? How to I keep myself prepared for the eventuality of meeting Christ? I see symbolism in this parable that helps me to think of various answers. I see the lamp, the wick, the oil in the lamp, and the light that the lamp brings forth as powerful symbols.

The lamp is a hollow vessel, kind of like our mortal bodies, that can do nothing without the wick, oil, and a spark to light the lamp. Our mortal bodies are hollow vessels if they do not house a soul.

The wick symbolizes the passing of days. Each day the wick needs to be trimmed so that the burnt end can be replaced with a fresh, clean tip that will burn without soot and impurity. There is plenty of wick coiled up inside the lamp that will last perhaps as long as the lamp itself. After playing with an oil lamp for a while recently I noticed that once the wick starts to burn (which isn’t supposed to happen because it is the oil that burns) it is used up much faster than when it is freshly trimmed. A freshly trimmed wick takes a long time to start to discolor. A black, burnt wick will soon start to smolder, glowing red even after the flame has been extinguished.

The flame, of course, is the fire that represents God. God was revealed to Moses in the burning bush. God guided the Hebrew people through the forty years in the dessert by a cloud by day and by a pillar of fire by night. God came to the Apostles at Pentecost as the Holy Spirit in a form that resembled tongues of fire on top of their heads. The light that the flame casts is the Light of God that displaces the dark, unenlightened parts of our lives. The loneliness of the dark is chased away by the Light.

It is the oil that symbolizes preparedness. The oil is the variable that needs to be constantly replenished. It is when we bottle up extra oil and carry it around with us that we are prepared. We need the oil because it is the oil that keeps the flame lit.

So where do we get more oil? I have several ideas. Being a priest, the first thing that comes to mind is that the oil is at church—worship, Bible study, fellowship with the faithful. Maybe we add oil to our lamps when we partake in the sacrament of Eucharist. Another thing that comes to mind is prayer. When we make conscious contact with God through prayer there is no doubt that our lamps are filled with oil.

How does interaction with other people add oil to our lamps? Jesus talked about “whatever you do unto the least of these you do unto me.” Jesus talked about visiting the jailed, tending to the sick, feeding the hungry, and giving water to the thirsty. We have a basket in the narthex where we collect food to take to the local food bank. When we put food in that basket we are putting oil in our lamps.

When we pledge to our church it is putting oil in our lamps, too. The common factor is that we are supporting God and God’s people (which is everybody) rather than just taking care of our own selves without concern for the building up of the Kingdom of God on earth.

I hope that I have encouraged you to think of ways that each of you fills your lamp with oil so that you can be prepared for the coming of Christ. After all, when He comes, he doesn’t want to find us idle or squandering our God-given resources. But that is the sermon for next week. Stay tuned…

==Amen==

The following is a devotion that I found on the Internet as I prepared for this week’s sermon. The web address is:

http://youthrillme.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/trim-your-wick/

Trim Your Wick

The CANDLE: warm glow, dancing of the flame, the slow drip of the fragrant wax.  Soothing isn’t it?  One could sit for hours in its shadow, just admiring the affect it has on us. At bible study, as the women enter they are greeted with a white linen covered table; with two tapered candles burning in long stem crystal holders.  The atmosphere is warm and elegant, inviting.  There is something about … a flickering flame. The Lord revealed Himself many times in the flame, the bush with Moses, where he was commissioned, and Yahweh gives us His name, “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3), and the pillar of fire at night to the Israelites, extending His guidance (Ex. 13).  Solomon dedicating the Temple, fire came down from heaven as God’s glory filled it (2 Chron. 7). One cannot talk fire, forgetting to mention the show down on Mt. Carmel, Elijah, and his God against the prophets of Baal (I Kings 18).  Then the tongues of fire on the heads of those gathered at Pentecost (Acts 2)

Oh, we may not be calling God down from heaven these days to consume our sacrifice to prove a point, but the use of the flame on a smaller note, we can understand.  The theme of the candle or lamp in the bible is strong.  In Psalm 18:28 David writes “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness”.   Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path“.   It is God that burns, His presence, His word that lights our way; it is in our very next step we desire Him to be present.  Light our way O God!

With the joy and privilege of the candle comes responsibility, tending.  The priests DAILY tended to the lamp in the Tabernacle.  Along with the sacrifice, the water, the light, these needed daily attention.  When God gave strict instruction of the articles for the Tabernacle, He included the ‘wick trimmers’.  Exodus 25:38, the wick trimmers were made of pure gold. 
As I researched this, I was amazed to find ~ the need that as we trim the wick short; we ‘cut off yesterday’s fire.’  It was described that the wick begins to have a small build up, causing the flame not to burn pure, and too fast.  This is the black soot that flows from the flame; it is drowning in a large pool of melted wax.   This soot seems to fall and attach itself to those things closest to the candle.  Hm… think on that.   We trim for a fresh, even, pure, lasting flame!  Fresh Fire!  Does that stir something in you?

The Lord spoke to me about the need to come DAILY, seeking His presence, His word, that FRESH FIRE, depending not on yesterday’s experience!  As I trim my wick and prepare for a fresh word from God, His presence comes.  As He did with Moses, He will reveal Himself to me, commissioning me for the day.  As the Israelites, He will guide me.  As His temple, He will fill me.  Just like Elijah He will do great things in my midst. 
 


How is your flame burning?  Is it yesterday’s fire, or has it gone out completely?  Seek as David did,.. ‘light my candle O God!
 
Fresh Fire. Trim your wick, for a pure, even, lasting flame, Go God!  (wouldn’t that look great on the Yankee candle label)
 
Have a God-loving, tongues of fire dancing on your head, week.