today i'm stitched up a sewn
catch me up, i've got warmth in my bones
I love it when we have an upbeat, even chaotic prelude (like last week). It’s great coming into worship -led by a flame- with the sense that anything could happen. It’s a good way to begin worship, anticipating that anything could happen, because, well, maybe it could…
Remember how I used to make you share with each other what you thought God might do during our worship (an exercise I learned from former ELCA Bishop, Mark Hansen)? Well, I only gave that up reluctantly. The truth is, it’s a good question. More precisely, it’s a good way to begin worship: anticipating that God is going to do something, that anything could happen.
That’s what today’s parable is about…
I remember once when I was younger, and my uncle was going to drive in from Washington State, to visit us all in Iowa. His siblings decided to keep this a secret from my grandmother. Their idea was that once he arrived, they’d throw her a surprise party.
On the day my uncle left, I was a little anxious. Finally, I went to my mom and asked why everyone wasn’t getting the party ready.
Well, she told me he wouldn’t get in that day.
But, “what if,” I protested! What if he went really fast and got in that night? If he got in that day, why we’d throw a party, but nothing would be ready!!!
But, “what if,” I protested! What if he went really fast and got in that night? If he got in that day, why we’d throw a party, but nothing would be ready!!!
…Obviously my uncle didn’t drive halfway across the United States in a single day. But what if he had?
What if?
And in the world of today’s parable, my uncle would have showed up; the party would have begun suddenly and unexpectedly. The parable Jesus tells today, is about a party, a party that does happen; it happens when every reasonable person thinks it can’t…
Today Jesus tells a parable about the great feast to end all feasts, the great wedding banquet. Surprisingly the main character isn’t the bride or groom, it’s the bridesmaids.
These bridesmaids have one simple task, to make sure everything is just right for the wedding. A lot like bridesmaids today… Apparently half of these bridesmaids in Jesus’ parable are wise, and the others are foolish; five wise bridesmaids and five foolish.
The only difference between these wise and foolish bridesmaids, it turns out, is simply how much oil they brought along to light the path for the bridegroom. That’s all.
The wise and foolish bridesmaids line the entrance to the wedding hall, holding their lamps to light the path in to the party. There’s a problem, though, the bridegroom is delayed.
In fact, the wise and the foolish bridesmaids, they all fall asleep waiting for the late bridegroom!
SUDDENLY, though, the shout does go out; “Look! Here comes the bridegroom!” In that one abrupt moment, the folly and wisdom of these bridesmaids is laid bare.
The only thing that we can attribute to the wise bridesmaids’ wisdom, is that they simply that they brought more oil. That’s all!
The party begins to get underway and the poor, foolish bridesmaids have to excuse themselves and run off to the Wal-grens to get some toilet paper, or something like that…
But did you notice that?
The only thing that marks the wise bridesmaids as being particularly bright is simply that they brought more oil to light the path to the party.
When you look at it that way, the honest truth is, the foolish bridesmaids are the one’s we’d more than likely call prudent.
I’ll say a little more.
These so-called foolish bridesmaids brought enough oil to last a reasonable amount of time. I mean, c’mon. If the bridegroom hasn’t shown up by midnight, the wedding isn’t going to be happening that day. Who has a wedding at midnight?!?! Who in their right mind would bring enough oil to light the path for a wedding that would begin after midnight? No one, that’s who!
These foolish bridesmaids weren’t acting silly at all! in fact, more than likely, they thought they were just being practical…
Why in the world would anyone need enough oil to light the bridegroom’s path after midnight? No one reasonable would!
No one reasonable…
The only thing is, that isn’t how Jesus tells the parable… Jesus says that the five bridesmaids who thought they were acting sensible; were actually foolish.
Through the eyes of faith; the judgment of these bridesmaids is stingy, it’s cheap; or to use Jesus’ description, it’s foolish…
These bridesmaids have been going along, never expecting anything more. For these bridesmaids, all life held was the promise of a never-ending status quo, by their lights you can predict tomorrow by today. As they see it, if the groom doesn’t arrive by a respectable hour, the wedding won’t be happening that night. So, while we might think such behavior is wise; Jesus calls it foolishness…
For Jesus, the failure of these bridesmaids to expect anything surprising, that these bridesmaids can’t imagine the party starting at any moment, is pure foolishness.
When you look at it that way, you can’t help but wonder how often we have we’ve gone along with such foolishness, thinking we were just being prudent…
How many times have we shown up to church, expecting nothing more than doughnuts afterward? How were we piqued when the pastor made us turn to someone and say how we hoped God would show up for worship.
Here we are, blessed with this incredible promise; but we just go along, ho-hum. In fact, not long ago, in this very room, a member stood up, and read a letter of St. Paul insisting that the trumpet will sound; and when it does, the living and the dead will all be caught up together to be united with God.
We hear a wonderful promise like that, and we just go along like nothing happened; like it doesn’t mean a darn thing!
It’s foolishness, I’m telling you!
Apparently we don’t think St. Gabriel is going to sound the trumpet today. That kind of behavior, is the worst thing about being a pastor. That kind of behavior is nihilistic. That kind of behavior is why folks don’t bother coming to church, or even believing in God’s promises at all; because for better or worse God has chosen us to light the path to the great banquet. Worst of all, though, Jesus says that kind of behavior is pure foolishness.
We go along, thinking we’re just being prudent, realistic. Through the eyes of faith, though, our prudence is anything but. As Jesus says, folks who live like that are actually foolish.
That’s where scarcity really starts, sisters and brothers.
Scarcity doesn’t start in your wallet, it doesn’t start in Trinity’s budget, or our attendance numbers. No, true scarcity starts in our hearts. True scarcity begins when we can’t believe God would actually show up; show up here and now, show up to you and me…
But that’s all stewardship is, sisters and brothers.
Stewardship is simply the wide-eyed anticipation that all, every single one of God’s promises, could be completely fulfilled; right here and right now.
Stewardship isn’t about our budget.
Stewardship isn’t even about your pledges.
No, stewardship is about what we expect, what we hope.
Stewardship is about a life that excitedly and extravagantly expects the great feast to begin; at any minute.
To the eyes of the world, those bridesmaids who brought an entire extra flask of oil as they waited for the bridegroom, are frivolous. Through the eyes of faith, though; those bridesmaids are the only ones who are wise!
Those bridesmaids weren’t wise because they’ve figured out how to grow attendance, because they’re doubled the budget, or because they kept out the riff-raff.
No, those bridesmaids were wise, simply because when they went out to light the path; they hoped with everything that tonight really was the night of the great banquet; and so they brought all their oil. That’s all. To the world, that kind of behavior may seem pathetic. Through the eyes of faith, though; that kind of behavior is truly wise.
And that’s all stewardship is, sisters and brothers.
Stewardship isn’t about how much you think you can spare.
Stewardship isn’t about a percent of your income.
No, stewardship is about your hope; that tonight could be the night, that now could be the moment all of God’s promises are fulfilled.
That’s the hinge everything turns on.
It turns out that Jesus parable, his word at the end, “Keep awake, therefore;” it isn’t a threat, and it isn’t to scare you, either. No, Jesus’ Word is pure Promise. Jesus’ Word is the only thing that can make folks like you and me into stewards. Jesus’ Word today, turns out to be the best invitation you’ve ever received.
‘Keep awake. Expect more than just the same ‘ol, same ‘ol,’ Jesus whispers to you.
‘Keep awake, you won’t want to miss what’s going to happen,’ Jesus nudges you.
‘Keep awake, you’re not going to want to run-out in the middle of this party,’ Jesus winks.
“Keep awake,” Jesus said. “I’m throwing a great party, and you’re invited. YOU’RE invited. Don’t let anything get between you and this great banquet.”
That’s all stewardship is, fellow partygoers.
Amen
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