by Rev. B. Hartsough
November 8, 2020 Proper 27 Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, Matthew 25:1-13
Today we have another parable about the kingdom of God. Today’s parable is part of a long discourse on being prepared. It comes after the parable of the foolish servant/slave that we read a few weeks ago. In that parable, the servant was given authority over the master’s house. He abused the authority and it ended badly for the servant. Today’s parable follows the same theme of taking responsibility for our choices and actions and accepting the consequences. I do not like to think about sorting and judgement by God. I do not know how it will work, that’s God’s job. I do know that Jesus taught that there will be some sort of accountability for the choices that we make. That’s what today’s parable is about.
In today’s parable, the scene is a first century wedding in Palestine. The bridesmaids would light the way for the bride to meet the bridegroom and then light their way to the wedding banquet. It was a symbolic procession of the bride leaving her father’s house to go with the groom. In this parable the groom comes very late. The markets to buy oil would have been closed. It was unusual that the groom would come so late. The wise bridesmaids had enough oil and were ready. Notice that the foolish bridesmaids had oil in their lamps but not enough as their lamps were going out. This parable is meant to be interpreted symbolically.
Let us look at the symbols. There are five foolish bridesmaids, five wise bridesmaids, a bridegroom, lamps, and oil. The bridegroom represents the coming of God’s kingdom that Jesus ushers in. The bridesmaids represent us-followers of Jesus. Notice that the bridesmaids were equal except for their stock of oil. The reading does not say that the wise bridesmaid had more money or were better dressed. It does not say that the foolish bridesmaids were poor, oppressed, or had misfortune. They were equal in their economic circumstance. It was the choices they made that set them apart.
Then we have the oil and the lamps. The oil fuels the lamps. The oil is what we do to be prepared to see God’s kingdom. The lamp illuminates God’s kingdom so that we can see it.
In the parable of the bridesmaids, there were choices to be made. The choice to have oil ready or the choice to wait until the last minute to buy oil.
In ancient times, lamps with oil provided choices. It gave you more freedom to see and move around at night. Without the oil, your choices at night were limited. Your actions were limited. If you ran out of oil at night, you could not see. You could not do work. if you were traveling, you may get lost or robbed. It could be a life or death situation. it was that simple. Light was protection and provided choices.
We do not use oil lamps on a daily basis. We are accustomed to having electric lights. Imagine being dependent on oil lamps at night. It reminded me of living in Sewanee. Sewanee is a beautiful place during the day. But at night it is very dark. Only a few main streets are lit. just walking to a car from a building can be dangerous. It is dark and there are wild animals and poisonous snakes around. when you live in Sewanee you learn to keep flashlights on hand. It is just something you do.
Having oil or having flashlights is a choice. Choosing the way to live goes back to ancient Israel. In today’s old testament reading, Joshua gives the people of Israel a choice, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Joshua is reminding the people of their responsibilities as a people in covenant with God. Choose wisely as our choices have consequences.
Having oil on hand and trimming wicks would have been mundane, ordinary tasks. Something that was essential and needed in order to function in everyday life. The parable here is saying that the work that we do to stay in relationship with God is essential to our everyday life. It is symbolic of the work we each do individually to stay in relationship with God and to maintain good spiritual health. Like physical health, we must eat right and exercise.
The wise bridesmaids could not share their oil. This is work the foolish bridesmaids must do for themselves. No one else could do it for them. No one else can do it for us. It includes feeding our faith by saying prayers, going to church, and reading scripture. It means taking time to listen to God in nature and in silence. These are tasks that fuel the light. It builds up so that when something unexpected comes, we have enough reserve inside of us to survive.
When our lamps are fueled, we can see God’s kingdom breaking through. Our lamps light the way as we see the bridegroom amongst us. We meet the bridegroom when we see Jesus at work in the world. When justice is done. When ill people feel the presence of God. Our lamps illumine God in the world. When we show love and compassion, when we work for peace and justice, then our lamps light the way for others to see God at work in the world. And the light from our lamps help us to see God in the midst of darkness and to live in hope. We live in hope for when God’s kingdom will be fully restored here on earth.
So now here is my reinterpretation of the parable. The kingdom of heaven is like this. There were ten people, five in good spiritual health and five in poor spiritual health. They were waiting to see Jesus beginning to usher in his kingdom in the world. The five in good spiritual health saw fleeting glimpses of Jesus at the deathbeds of loved ones surrounded by God’s love and peace. They heard Jesus in the voices of the oppressed who were crying out for justice. They felt Jesus in reconciliation work that united people in their differences. They lived like they knew Jesus. They lived with hope expecting to see Jesus. The five in poor spiritual health, well-they had work to do.