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SERMONS

The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
November 10 , 2002

By David Christian

How mean!

I mean, really.

In recent weeks we have been reading a series of Jesus' parables about the kingdom of God. One of the main themes of all of these parables has been the graciousness and inclusiveness of God's love. There was the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, where the last hired were paid as much as those who had worked all day. And there was the parable of the wedding banquet, where the king was so intent on throwing a party that he gathered in people off the street. Now today we have the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. In this one the bridegroom is just mean.

The setting is a wedding feast. Ten bridesmaids, all with their lamps, go out to meet the bridegroom. But the bridegroom is late. By the time he arrives the bridesmaids' lamps are getting low on fuel. Some of the bridesmaids--the compulsive ones--have brought extra fuel. But others didn't think about that.

While the bridesmaids who don't have enough fuel are looking for more, the bridegroom arrives for the party. He goes right on into the country club along with those compulsive bridesmaids and closes the door. When the other bridesmaids who have been frantically looking for fuel arrive, he won't let them in. He just slams the door in their faces and leaves them standing out in the cold and the dark.

Now that's mean. It just is. It's mean and it's not fair.

It's not their fault.

If the bridegroom had been on time, there wouldn't have been any problem. They were there when they were supposed to be there. They had their lamps. They had their bridesmaids' gowns on and their bouquets and their hair done and their makeup on and those shoes that hurt their feet. They were ready.

It was the bridegroom that was late. It is really his fault, and it's not fair, and it's mean.

Actually, it's life.

Life is not mean or nice. Life is not fair or unfair. Life is not anybody's fault.

Life just is.

Life happens. Not according to our schedules. Not according to our sense of right or wrong. Not according to our sense of fairness or our desires or our wishes.

Life just happens.

And if we are not awake ... If we are not aware ... If we are not ready to act ... it passes us by.

In our lives today we seem to have almost unlimited choices. We are awash in information. We have truckloads of consultants and mountains of books that offer to help us choose whatever it is that we wish to choose.

The variety of choices and the flood of information and advice available can be overwhelming. We can become paralyzed. Unable to choose lest we choose incorrectly. Unable to act lest we do the wrong thing.

The word decide means literally to cut away. To decide means to lose some options. It means to cut off some possibilities. There are times when it is necessary to decide, times when it is necessary to act, times when it is necessary to make a choice. If we don't, the opportunity may pass.

What important things need to be done in your life today? What in your relationships with family or friends or God needs to be attended to? What needs to be said? What phone calls need to be made? What letters need to be written? What decisions need to be made?

Is now the time?

If so, do it.

You don't want to find the opportunity passed, and the door closed and locked in your face.

David Christian
The Chapel of the Cross
Madison, Mississippi

Proper 27A
Amos 5.18-24 1
Thessalonians 4.13-18
Matthew 25.1-13