Matthew 25:1-13
Pent 24A
Rev. Dr. Bruce Roth
Today’s gospel reading is a parable. A parable is essentially a story that is shared to make a point. More often than not a parable would take something that was commonly known in society so that the people who were hearing the story would understand the point and make the connection. This particular parable was based on wedding customs of the time. Jewish weddings typically took place in the evening; though the exact time was kept secret. Prior to the ceremony the groom would go to the bride’s home and lead her, along with the villagers, in a procession to the wedding. The virgins in this story were waiting for the groom and may have been the bridesmaids who had the responsibility to prepare the bride to meet the groom. It was an image about which Jesus’ listeners could relate. What do hear when you listen to this story?
Here’s what I hear. In essence, this parable is about the need to be open and ready for the kingdom of God to break into our lives at any time. What I hear is that God wants us to experience the joy of being part of his kingdom, both now and the kingdom to come. This parable is about how some, who Jesus relates to the foolish virgins, aren’t ready for the coming kingdom. What I hear as I read this story is that we have half of the people who were ready and half who weren’t ready for the kingdom to come. These bridesmaids aren’t ready for a number of reasons.
At the core though I would suggest that the reason they aren’t ready is because the bridesmaids are distracted. They are so concerned about keeping their lamps lit that they forget that simply being there is the most important thing. So, they listen to the so-called wise brides’ maids who tell them to leave the party and buy more oil—in the process they miss the celebration. I say so-called because Jesus had a sarcastic wit and if you notice—these wise bridesmaids are the ones who tell the foolish ones to go get more oil—the wise give the foolish some pretty bad advice. Of course, the foolish are truly foolish and miss the party for at least two reasons—first, they are distracted and listen to the clutter and clamor of the world, focusing on what is not truly important in life. Second, they listen to the wrong voices and listen to bad advice.
What makes this parable a parable is that it is meant to connect with us—in fact, it is really a parable about us. How? It questions what and who we listen to. I know listening can be tough. We hear so much that sometimes it can be downright maddening. Take Great-aunt Lucy for example. She was losing her hearing. A specialist suggested an operation to improve her hearing. But she promptly vetoed the idea, saying: “I’m ninety-four years old, I’ve heard enough.” Well, who here would agree that the world is filled with distractions? The world is filled with voices and sounds that keep us from focusing on what is truly important in life. What’s the most important thing in life? The most important thing in life is a living, dynamic relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How can I be so bold in saying that that is the most important thing in life? Well, what is the first commandment that God gives us? I am the Lord your God you shall have no other god’s before me. What is it that Jesus says is the greatest commandment? To love the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
It is staggering how many voices try to call our attention away from realizing who God is and following that first and greatest of commands. In fact, I read a stunning figure to our confirmation class last week that by the time our children graduate from high school they will have heard or seen about 350,000 television commercials. These commercials have a powerful message that is often contrary to the message God would like us to hear. Think about it just for a moment…Who remembers the Burger King commercial? “Have it your way.” What’s the message—who’s most important? You. Most of the commercials we hear and see are focused on helping us feel as though we are the most important thing life—our needs, our wants, our desires. The problem comes when we listen to these voices and take their message to heart and push what’s truly important to the background. That’s precisely what happens with the foolish bridesmaids—they’re so focused on not looking foolish by carrying lamps that are unlit that they actually leave the party. They’re focused on the wrong thing.
Father Robert Capon offered a great insight into this parable sharing that the sad part about the foolish bridesmaids is that they actually excluded themselves. They were there. All they had to do was stay and realize what was important. Don’t miss what’s really important; don’t let the voices of the world distract you from realizing that the most important thing is a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.
Not only do voices tend to distract us from what’s truly important, sometimes we listen to bad advice that keeps us from experiencing the joy of the relationship God desires for us. There was a professor who was trying to disprove God. At the University of Southern California, a philosophy professor, who was an avowed atheist wanted to make sure that every student by the end of the semester got rid of the idea of believing in God. He was trying to strip away anything that they might have hung onto in their faith. Day in and day out he would take these 300 students through the rigors. He would say, “Anyone who believes in God is a fool because God doesn’t exist. Jesus Christ never died on the cross…” And he’d take it point by point. Then at the end of the semester he would say, “If there is anyone in the classroom who still believes in God, stand up.” No one dared stand. Then he would take a piece of chalk. He’d hold it out and say, “If there is a God, God could come down and stop this chalk from smashing into bits and pieces on the concrete floor.” And he’d drop the chalk; the chalk would fall smashing into smithereens all over the floor. Then he’d say, “That proves to you that there is no God.”
The next semester there was a Christian who had to take the class in order to graduate. Every day he prayed before he went. He’d sit there and listen and pray, “God help me find a way to say something.” Sure enough the last day of the class the professor asked, “Is there anyone in here who still believes in God?” This young man, Ron, stood up and said, “I believe in God.”
The professor said, “You fool! If there was a God he could take this piece of chalk and catch it before it hit the ground.” And just as he was about to let go of the chalk he turned his arm and it rolled down his sleeve, down the front of his shirt, caught in the fold of his pants, hit his shoe and just rolled intact (not even a chip) onto the ground. The professor stormed out of the auditorium. Ron when to the front of the class and said, “Fellow students, we’ve been listening for an entire semester to a man who is telling us things to try to shatter our faith.” Even though the wise bridesmaids may have had the best of intentions, they gave the bridesmaids some foolish advice that the foolish bridesmaids took to heart. Too often, we listen to voices that do the exact same thing—and lead us to something other than what God desires for us.
The story of Ron ends as he shared with the class, “Let me tell you what God is like. Do you know how much God loves you?” Not one student walked out as he told them about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is my hope, in the midst of the distractions that the world brings that keep us form focusing on what’s truly important, and through all the bad advice we’re given about who god is—it is my hope and prayer that you might realize that God loves us so much—so much so that God sent his only Son to die for you. I hope you hear through it all that God invites you to be part of the party, to experience the glory of the kingdom. As we move in our journey let us embrace the opportunity in worship to hear clearly who God is and the God loves you now and forever. Amen.