Do we have enough oil for the long night?

About this time many of us may be wondering if we have enough oil to keep our lamps burning! Indeed, some of us are running on almost empty already. In a world constantly at war, on a planet struggling to self regulate, facing issues that seem to get worse not better, and our own problems, we can – in the small hours of the morning – wonder if we have enough in reserve to keep our lamps burning! (Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 27 [32]. Matthew 25:1-13.)

 Sentence:

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women 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.” Matthew 25:1-4

Collect:

Gracious God, source of all being,

Fill us with your spirit that we might live, move and work in your name.

Let your word inspire and prepare us for the work of faith and love.

And may we bear your light in this world’s darkness. Amen.

Reflection:

This is a confusing and challenging parable, most particularly because of the theme of judgment. So, we are going to have to work to find its relevance to us today.

You may like to read where I went last time.

Oil for our Lamps

About this time many of us may be wondering if we have enough oil to keep our lamps burning! Indeed, some of us are running on almost empty already. In a world constantly at war, on a planet struggling to self regulate, facing issues that seem to get worse not better, and our own problems, we can – in the small hours of the morning – wonder if we have enough in reserve to keep our lamps burning!

Context is always important. It is not only nearly the end of Matthew’s gospel it is also nearly the end of the church year so themes of judgement and the need to stay awake have a sense of urgency and seasonality. In the context of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and ministry everything is coming to a climax and these parables convey a sense of urgency in which Jesus is challenging his followers to make a clear choice and to be ready for the pain and chaos that is about to happen. And by the time this gospel is being written down time has passed and the community is finding it difficult to maintain their passion and commitment given Jesus has not come back yet. So, there are at least two levels of urgency and challenge which will also be apparent in the next two parables that we will hear over the next two weeks.

And there are several elements that seem unfair or ridiculous – such as the foolish young women not being allowed in when they come back from buying more oil. We must remember that parables are not simple allegories and so it is not always obvious how to interpret particular aspects. But judgement and exclusion are common themes in Matthew. Judgement is often connected to the call to live and work for righteousness. And we need to remember that judgement is not our task. While we are not told what the oil represents in this parable oil is often associated with the spirit and so maybe about bearing fruit of the spirit in a life given over to being transformed by the loving kindness of the Lord.

As people wanting to be faithful and ready in our age and circumstances we might ask ourselves “How long must we wait? Or, how are we to wait?” As a teenage convert salvation seemed to be a one time only question resolved by making the right decision and saying the right prayer. But these three parables in Matthew 25 suggest that faithfulness is about how we live our whole long life. Not that we don’t all “go to sleep” as some point but are we ready, prepared, for the long haul? Can we stay faithful and hopeful even when life is hard – not just our personal life is hard but our community is struggling? Can we keep fighting the good fight even when opposing forces seem stronger than us? Jesus is asking this just before his arrest and before everything for him seems to overwhelm his life and teaching!

This parable, for all its difficulties, reminds us that even when we feel like we are fighting an uphill battle we are included in the story! At this moment in history, and there has been many before, we seem to need to be ready for a long and hard wait in many areas as we wait for elections and election results; as authorities tell us to have several days supply of food and water at home just in case; when our churches and care agencies struggle to meet need and have to prepare for even more need at year’s end with harsh winters in the north and fire and drought risk in the south. This is our common experience – the need to trim our lamps and top up the oil. So, we should not be too shocked or disheartened when the waiting and the night is long. Let us encourage one another during the wait, let night be a time of rest and preparation in which our hearts wait for the sound of the bridegroom approaching. The purpose of our lifetime, the work of a lifetime, takes a life time. We need to be ready as individuals and as a community.

Even so, come Lord Jesus the Christ, and be with us in the preparing, the waiting and in the welcome!

Intercessions:

Creator God, first light from which all life came,

We give you thanks and praise for the life force that pulses through all creation. We particularly pray for those places, creatures and people who wait for light, for rain, for new growth and restoration at your hand.

We pray for custodians of ancient wisdom and new science that seek to protect and build up the earth’s bounty.

Gracious God,

Hear our prayer.

Jesus, light bearer,

We give your thanks and praise for your teachings of light,

your companionship in the dark, and the oil of gladness that eases life.

We particularly pray for those who share your dream of heaven on earth, and those who are weary from the waiting.

We pray for light seekers and light bearers, may we share your light with one another until we can see a new world.

Jesus, our light bearer,

Hear our prayer.

Spirit of God, light that cannot be extinguished,

We give you thanks and praise for the divine spark that enlightens and enlivens us.

We particularly pray for those whose light burns low at this time through illness, grief, or any despair.

We pray that at these times we may know you closer than our own breath.

Bless those who keep us company in the dark.

And when the time comes may we return to the Light that shines at the centre of the heart of God.

Spirit of God,

Hear our prayer.

Gracious God,

Creator, Light bearer, and Spirit of the Living God,

Feed your spark within us from your eternal light and keep us burning bright in this dark world.

Amen.

This is my work informed by all that I have heard, read and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others. This week I am especially grateful to the team at Pulpit Fiction Reverends Robb McCoy and Eric Fistler. Episode 698 Bridegrooms, Borrowed Light and Better Hope.

https://www.pulpitfiction.com