Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 27: Year A
Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25: 13)
There are a couple of things to ponder here in this Eucharistic Gospel reading from Matthew. First, the foolish are called foolish because of their neglect in not having a reserve supply of oil for their lamps. Likewise, the wise are called wise because they brought along an extra 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 then, is not literally about sleep deprivation. It’s about discipleship. It is about being forever diligent in prayer.
Being 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 think ahead. 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 our Compline words, “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; Guide us waking O Lord, and Guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.” (BCP p. 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 ifs” of life, and, “whatever is right.” And my beloved in the Lord, staying awake in prayer.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: Proper 27: The Sunday closest to November 9 (BCP p. 236)
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
