Musical Prelude and Service.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 & Matthew 25:1–13
Yet again, we find ourselves considering a passage of scripture that makes me, and maybe more than a few of you, uncomfortable. This is yet another passage from Matthew’s gospel that leaves me wondering, who is this Jesus guy anyway? I really don’t like this attitude. It seems a little bit cruel, maybe not terribly compassionate.
On first glance, the way he seems to treat these five poor unfortunate young women who made a simple mistake and now what? They are locked out of the party?
There’s a struggle here to read this scripture and find the message of mercy, of compassion and welcome that I have come to associate with my faith as it has grown and transformed over the years. As I have read more and studied and reflected on the God that is revealed to me in scripture, in the words and actions of Jesus that I find in scripture, I keep finding a God whose love and grace offers second chanced; third, fourth and repeated chances. I am shown over and over a God who keeps inviting us back into that warm and loving relationship with the holy.
So how do I find that God; or in what way am I shown a glimpse of that God in this passage of scripture?
Well, in my readings this past week I was reminded of the Jewish tradition of Midrash. This is the tradition in which rabbis and other Jewish people who study and reflect on scripture wrestle with the texts. They do not simply read what is offered and accept it without question. They struggle with it. Talk about it and reimagine what it might really be trying to tell us.
They allow the story to play around in their imagination. They add to the text and consider other possibilities around it.
They take seriously the story of Jacob wrestling with the man we presume to be an angel or perhaps God. That Jacob refuses to quit until he has received a blessing.
Liz Milner, a chaplain in the Santa Clara Conty jail system, notes in an article I read, that sometimes you need to pull back from the passage that is troubling you and consider the larger context.
Prior to this particular section of Matthew, Jesus responds to repeated questions from his followers about what the last days will look like. Jesus offers an image of some being chosen and others not. He offers the warning about staying awake to the signs that are offered.
Then we get this parable of the brides’ maids. Jesus then offers the story of the talents and finally follows with the parable of the goats and sheep.
What is the overall message provided in these different yet connected stories. Well, we will talk more about the Talents next week, but there is certainly the idea that we are offered the tools, the gifts we need to be prepared for trials that come our way. And there is also the very strong suggestion that we are called to serve those who are struggling, those who are hungry; who are pushed to the margins, and those who are alone.
Jesus points to a world that is in turmoil. A world where people are suffering, and we struggle to know who to trust. And Jesus warns us to stay alert to what is happening around us.
He introduces us to ten bridesmaids. Half come with an added supply of oil. The others don’t plan ahead. All ten fall asleep. Not remaining awake is not the problem here. Some of my readings are careful to note that the word that is often translated as staying awake, can also be interpreted as staying alert or engaged in what needs to be done.
The five who find themselves with no oil eventually run off to find more. In doing so they miss the arrival of the bridegroom and cannot get into the party.
It’s a harsh message.
What do we do with it? Where is the welcoming, caring and loving Jesus we yearn for? I believe we are expected to wrestle with this story. To keep imagining it and reimagining it. To ask difficult questions and look at it from different sides. To come back to it later when maybe it tells us something different. That yes, Jesus wants us to be aware of the times we are living in. To consider what we need and who we need and to not close our eyes to the harsh reality.
But perhaps we can relate to the bridesmaids who realize too late they have no oil to light their lamps. Perhaps we can see ourselves in these women who are confronted by the looming darkness and are casting about for a solution. Their neighbours and friends may have enough oil for their own lamps but aren’t prepared to share what they have left. In their desperation, these women start looking around for another source of oil. They are looking for another way to light their lamps.
And so, instead of waiting for the bridegroom they go off in search of new oil.
And so, I wonder. Perhaps that long awaited bridegroom, whom we are led to presume is Jesus, would provide what they seek, if only they waited? Perhaps the bridegroom would have invited them to join him in the well lit party?
But instead, they went looking elsewhere for their light. They let their fear of being judged foolish and ill-prepared or not living up to their responsibilities, rob them of the chance to meet the bridegroom.
I still have problems with the harsh treatment described in this story. It doesn’t demonstrate the compassion we have come to expect. But if we are put out by the lack of mercy. If we are left hurt by the rigidity and lack of invitation evident in this story; perhaps that offers us a lesson we can take forward in how we treat those who knock on our doors. Can we offer second, third, fourth chances etc.?
Earlier in this service I asked a question about hope. What does hope look like to us? What are some words and images that remind us of hope? What are we looking for? I believe we are living in a time in desperate need of hope.
Can we see hope in this story?
The bridegroom does show up. Not when expected, but they do show up. We are encouraged to be prepared; to stay alert to the possibilities. We have our ideas and our expectations. We have our needs. God will answer. God will show up. In fact, I believe God is already here and at work. But sometimes the way God is at work remains a complete and utter mystery to our eyes and our way of understanding.
But if we keep our eyes open – if we remain open and alert to the possibilities around us, we may just notice something remarkable taking place.

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