This LIttle Light of Mine

There are people who shop for Christmas all through the year, some of them start shopping for next year the day after the Christmas just past. They do this so that they are ready. There are people who retire and begin down-sizing. They move to smaller, one-story homes, have garage sales, get rid of all the extra stuff from the old house, and make sure their yard is manageable. They do all this to get ready – for the inevitable day when they can’t do what they used to do. And there are people who work on papers, homework, and projects well in advance. They prepare ahead in case something unexpected turns up. They prepare ahead to make sure that paper, that homework, or that project will be ready. And so it was for 5 of the 10 bridesmaids. The wise five were prepared and ready. The wise five brought a whole bunch of oil for their lamps – maybe they did this in case the bridegroom – who maybe had a reputation for being late –was true to that reputation. And according to the parable – he was…late. Late enough so that all 10 of the bridesmaids fell asleep and did not awake until midnight when the bridegroom finally showed up. And the wise five who thought ahead; the wise five who were prepared for unforeseeable possibilities, were ready to escort the bridegroom to the wedding banquet. The foolish five were just plain out of luck. They asked their bridesmaid friends if they could borrow a little bit of oil but were told – No – we’re gonna keep all of our oil for ourselves – and if you were as wise as us you would have brought more of your own – – you’re out of luck – why don’t you see if a store is open at this late hour and go buy your own. But the oil store was closed and by the time the foolish five found oil, it was too late – the wedding banquet door was shut and they were not allowed in. This may not be a favorite parable – because it doesn’t sound very Christ-like or very Christian-like. Someone goofs up – miscalculates, makes a mistake, doesn’t bring enough oil – and it’s just too bad. Supposed friends --those bridesmaids - don’t back you up, don’t help, don’t even care – just left the other 5 out there hanging. And then they kind of mocked them for not being wise, sent them on a wild goose chase for oil, and when they did their best to make it right – it was still too bad – they were locked out. Nothing like how we think of Jesus there was No understanding, no forgiveness, no second chance, no nothing. New Testament theologians don’t even like this parable – and for the same reasons we don’t --it sounds neither Christ nor Christian like. But you see Matthew had an agenda: it was important for Matthew and his congregation to remain faithful – important to remain diligent in their faith, prepared and ready for the 2nd coming. Because if they weren’t on top of their faith at all times – they might not make it into the Kingdom of Heaven. And since Christ’s 2nd coming was delayed and delayed and delayed….this parable was to make sure the people didn’t get discouraged while they waited and waited …..and still--- here we are ---waiting. So while we wait, while we prepare for Christ’s return, and while we may think we are ready for that day – Have we checked our oil lamps lately? I ask this question because we are called to be a light to the world- no matter what – Jesus told us we are a light to the world. And so it is important that we keep an eye on our oil. Do you work too much – burning your oil day and night? Are you over your head with appointments and commitments – finding that you are running on less than a flicker – leaving not even a flicker for God? Have you put your lamp down; forgotten where you put it; packed it away; maybe all the oil in you lamp is gone – and your feeling burned out in the faith department – maybe you’re tired of carrying that ol’ faith lamp and assume it’s someone else’s job now, perhaps you have a lamp filled with oil but can’t seem to get it re-lit? A Columbia seminary professor writes: Maybe this parable is not so much about how much oil you have, but about the oil you carry with you and what you do with it. We all have gifts, we all have a call on our lives to share those gifts through our worship and our study, through our service and our work. God in his wisdom has given each of us enough oil to do what we are asked and to do what we are required to do in his name. Keeping the faith is not easy – not easy when we see the horrors that human beings inflict on other human beings; not easy to keep the faith when the world changes so fast it feels like we are being left behind; not easy when life disappoints, when family’s come up short, when church doesn’t feel like the church we used to know. Keeping the oil lamps of our faith lit and burning brightly is not easy in this 21st century. But Christ will come – and what he has told us will have to be enough to keep us going until he comes again. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.