T HIS READING DOES NOT CONJURE beautiful and joyful weddings. It might well be my own fault. My own place in the world right now. I am burdened by all that’s going on around us. Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey.
I’m burdened by accusations against Alabama senatorial candidate Roy Moore. Of the need in our day and time for the #metoo, an announcement, perhaps for the first time, by women who have been the victims of sexual misconduct.
And I’m burdened by yet another mass killing. People gathered to worship mowed down by an intruder.
I’m wandering in the dark. Is this a sign of Christ’s soon return? I know, I know, there have been many events over the past 2,000 years that have sparked that same comment. I know, I know, those signs passed and Christ didn’t return. I join my voice with the psalmist: “Make haste to help me, Lord! Hasten to me, O God! Lord, do not delay!”
† † †
“LORD, DO NOT DELAY” are words of waiting. They express what is almost unutterable — the lack of control, the fear of the unknown, the worry of whether or not we are ready, the anxiety about being prepared — or not — for what is to come.
Waiting carries many emotions — anticipation, wonder, eagerness, dread, agitation, fear, longing, loss. Of course, much of our emotional response is determined by that for which we wait. Waiting for the birth of a grandchild is a different wait than waiting for death to finally take a loved one living in pain. For either one, waiting is hard.
Fifty years have passed from the promise of Christ’s return and Matthew’s congregation is burdened. They wander in darkness. The temple is destroyed. Judaism and Christianity are in full rupture. When will Christ come again? When will the Light of the World shine into our darkness? What do we do until then?
MATTHEW PUTS ONTO PARCHMENT a section of Jesus addressing the end times. Today’s reading is one of Jesus’ parables. There are 10 young women, bridesmaids we call them. The word is young woman, or virgin. Teenage girls. They have a lot of similarities. All are bridesmaids. All are invited. All want to see the bridegroom and join the party. All wait into the night. All fall asleep.
Only one difference separates the two groups: Some, those described as wise, are prepared for the bridegroom’s absence. They have extra oil. Those described as foolish, are not prepared for the long wait.
The groom is delayed. Why? We don’t know. Darkness covers them. He finally arrives and five run off to get more oil while the five who have waited are welcome to the party.
† † †
THE PARABLE IS ABOUT HANGING IN THERE when surrounded by darkness. It’s everything to do with waiting when burdened by life’s stresses. It has everything to do with obedience to Christ even when we are down and out and the signs of the times indicate Jesus is coming soon but he is delayed.
So, we wait in the dark. We wait for our country to regain its sanity and civility. Wait for somebody to do something about all this killing, all this hate, all this racism. Wait for God’s Kingdom to show up, if not the big end-of-time-Kingdom, at least some glimmer that the Kingdom is on the way. Some little glow on the horizon — something, anything to give us hope in the darkness.
† † †
DOES IT BOTHER YOU that the wise bridesmaids will not share their oil with the foolish ones? That doesn’t seem Christian or even friendly. Unless this oil represents something that can’t really be shared, something like hope or faith or trust. You can tell me about your hope. You can describe it and you can light up with it, but you can’t really give it to me, can you? Whatever it is that makes for hope, I’m pretty sure it’s not something you can do for me or hand over to me.
There’s something else about real hope. It heals us of despair and resignation. Without hope, why try to make a difference? Why risk? Why work for a healthier world or neighborhood or family? Why wait in the dark? Hope encourages us to work for what we long for.
Hope doesn’t guarantee that we will succeed. Hope is more of a practice more than an accomplishment. Hope is not something that gets finished. We keep working at it. Some days hope comes easy, and some nights it comes hard, but we keep working at it.
† † †
PSALM 42:5: Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
Those lines describe the soul arguing with itself! In those words, the Psalmist preaches to himself. “Why are you weighed down, Keith? Why are you worried and anxious? Hope in God! You have praised God before, Keith, and you will praise him again. God is your help! Not feeling it right now? That’s OK. Trust anyway. Put your hope in the One who will not fail you.”
My hope might be shaky. My lamp may go out, but the One in whom I hope is unshakeable. (Thanks to my friend Mike Brewer for these ideas and words.)
— Keith Cardwell
