The Bridegroom Gives Wisdom to the Wise Virgins

Last Sunday after Trinity (Trinity 27)

November 22, 2012

The Bridegroom Gives Wisdom to the Wise Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Kids, what do you when Grandma's coming to your house? You wait by a window and watch and wait… at least for a little while. After a while, you get bored and go and play. Then when the doorbell rings, you scramble to the door to say hello to Grandma.

When it comes to watching and waiting for Jesus, we are just like children and just like the virgins in Jesus' story.

Matthew 25:1-5

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

All ten virgins fell asleep. It's easy to forget that even the five wise virgins dosed off. Jesus' point? Just like all the virgins, we too fail to follow through on Jesus' words,

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

In other words we all sin. We all fall short of God's expectation that—among other things—we fail to live like Jesus is coming back today. This doesn't mean spending your day staring up at the sky, saying, “Now… now… no, now!” (One of your guesses could be right, but you'd still be surprised.) Living like Jesus is coming today looks like children obeying their parents. It looks like a younger sister listening to her older sister speak about trouble in her life and encouraging her. It looks like a manager at John Deere or the Arsenal making sure that their staff allowed to do their jobs efficiently.

In addition to the excellence we strive for in our many callings in life, we live like Jesus is coming today by listening to Him. Next Sunday, you will be receiving a resource called The Congregation at Prayer. Please take it home and consider its step-by-step suggestions. The over-arching principle behind this weekly resource is simple: set aside time to listen to Jesus' promises. Listen to His forgiveness from your Baptism every morning. Live like He's coming back today by clinging to His acts of love for you.

This is what was different about the foolish virgins. They lived like Jesus wasn't coming. They knew how lamps worked. But they didn't bother with oil because they had faith that Jesus wasn't coming at all. So when He does return, they scramble for a new faith, but it's too late. He's already arrived. And the door is shut.

Matthew 25:10-13

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The wise virgins trusted the promise of the Bridegroom: He's coming. They didn't know exactly when. They knew it'd be after dark. That's why they had the lamps. But they, too, were surprised when the cry when out at midnight: “He's here!”

We, too, have this oil, this faith in Christ, because He has given it to us through word and water. He keeps our lamps filled through His word, body, and blood. So even while we are asleep, we still watch and pray with Him perfectly, because He watches and prays perfectly for us and gives us credit for His constant vigilance.

Waking or sleeping, we trust Him. Like little children who trust that Grandma is coming to visit, we, too, trust our Father in heaven that His Son is coming back.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.