New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Sunday of Proper 27: Year A
1st Thessalonians 4:13to18; Matthew 25:1to13
“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.” (Matthew 25: 3 – 5)
There are a couple of things to ponder here in this Eucharistic reading from Matthew. First, the foolish are called foolish because of their neglect in not having reserve oil for their lamps. Likewise, the wise are called wise because they brought along a reserve supply of oil.
Secondly, the point that Matthew has Jesus to make in this parable, is to stay awake. But in the parable, they all became drowsy and slept. This is not literally about sleep deprivation. It’s about discipleship. It is about being forever diligent.
Wise, or wisdom itself, must be based on caring; caring for yourself, and caring for others. The wise bridesmaids cared for themselves, but were not able to give additional care for those who didn’t think things through. We, today, must first make sure we are taking care of ourselves, and if we are able, to help those who didn’t see hard times coming. I guess the old adage is true, “It is better to have and not need, than to need, and not have.” This should have been the thinking of all the bridesmaids.
To stay awake, we must stay focused. Yes we must get our rest, our sleep. But we should go to sleep praying, and we should wake the same way. As children we learned, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep….” Our Church adult version of this (before bed) prayer can be found in Compline, “Guide us waking O Lord, and Guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace. Lord you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised. For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen. Guide us waking O Lord, and Guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.” (BCP 134)
The wise bridesmaids thought ahead about what the requirements would be if they were really serious about not only being at the right place, but also about sustaining themselves if things went longer than expected, and indeed, they did. We too, of today, must take those first steps in not only doing what is wise, but also thinking through the process and preparing for the “what-if’s” of life, and, “whatever is right.” And my beloved in the Lord, staying awake in prayer.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, Israel and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 