Prepare, by The Rev. Bonnie Matthews, Deacon
Posted on
Sermon November 9, 2014
Year A Proper 27
The Rev. Bonnie Matthews, Deacon
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Psalm 78:1-7
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13
May my meditations, my words and my actions always be acceptable to you,
O Lord my strength and my redeemer.
Good morning.
God is good all the time…..All the time God is good
With this lectionary, I needed to be reminded that God is good all the time.
Here we are, we have just celebrated All Saints’ Day with the knowledge that we will one day be joined in heaven with God and All the Saints and there are only three weeks before the start of our new church year with Advent and our anticipation of the Coming of Jesus. The scripture for today seems daunting and apocalyptic in nature. Or perhaps not, perhaps it’s a lesson on preparedness.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Paul’s discourse while apocalyptic is meant to be pastoral. He is addressing the Thessalonians who were grieving the death of fellow Christians. Paul recalls what God has done for Jesus. Jesus has died and has risen. God will do the same for those who die in Christ, they will live with Jesus. Paul is not trying to scare those who do not believe in Christ. He is encouraging those who believe in Christ. We need to hear this, we need to exercise our voices, we need to be our actions into words and deeds, we need to be prepared for that time.
Matthew 25:10-13
When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, `Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, `No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, `Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
Jesus uses this parable because in ancient Palestine everyone understood that wedding customs required vigilance and preparation for all who were involved. The bride and groom’s wedding celebration often lasted for a full week with their family and friends who, in many instances, had traveled a long way on foot. It was customary for the groom, at his discretion, to come and bring the bride to the wedding party. Because the groom came at his discretion it was necessary to be prepared. If the groom came at night by necessity lamps were required.
In today’s words it could be like traveling by air, sometimes by bus or train. You have to be ready, you need to pack, keeping in mind, the things you need and the things you can’t bring with you. You get to the TSA check point and you don’t have your proper identification or maybe it’s expired. Oops you don’t get to travel. But you had the opportunity to plan. Because weddings were so customary, the five foolish bridesmaids had the time to prepare. They knew what they needed. Jesus doesn’t say the bridesmaids used their oil foolishly. Jesus says they didn’t have any oil. The bridesmaids just weren’t prepared. They didn’t plan.
Today is stewardship Sunday.
A day identified to gather our estimate of giving cards noting our intention of financial support for Trinity Episcopal Church. Hopefully we have given prayerful attention to the financial needs of Trinity Church and what we can offer. With the excellent work of the Annual Appeals Team, we have all had the opportunity to review the materials contained in the mailing we received this past week. We may have read the book Thrift & Generosity by John Templeton, Jr. or the Warden's Report, the essays and poems by our brothers and sisters at Trinity as part of our discernment process and we have committed ourselves to the needs of the church.
But stewardship Sunday is not only about our monetary treasure.
Stewardship is also the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.
I know Trinity Church is something we care about and want to preserve. And we show that through participation.
Perhaps stewardship is raising your voice cheerfully like our young choristers, Jenna, Amaree, and Daniella who are being promoted to White Voice Life Level and Blue Voice Life Level in The Choir School of Hartford during today’s 10:00am service. You may be a choir member, or someone reading and/or studying scripture, praying with those who are requesting healing, tending to the alter as members of the alter guild, serving as an acolyte or minister of communion, bringing the Eucharist to those who are homebound, caring for the grounds of the church. Perhaps you are a steward of Christian Education for youth or adults. Please forgive me if I have not specifically named a ministry that is dear to you. There are so many ministries in the church that we take a whole year to name them as we lifting them up in prayer each week.
Stewardship is not solely about Trinity Church. God has entrusted us to care for all of God’s creation. It is about furthering God’s love for all in the world. In this sense, stewardship is also about how Trinity Church cares and tends to God’s creation outside of these walls. It is about how God may be calling you to action and service in the world. It is about being a witness to God’s love for us.
At the time of my ordination to the Holy Order of the Diaconate I vowed to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world, living and teaching Christ’s people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself.
My vocation as a deacon calls me to remind you that stewardship is not only about what we do within the church or the giving of goods or money to those in need. It is also about being a voice for justice for those who are in need. A voice against violence, a voice against hunger, a voice that calls for resolutions to end hunger, a voice that is lifted for racial, ethnic, financial, and sexual inequality.
If you have not considered this as part of your stewardship responsibility I urge you to reflect on how you can better participate in being prepared and in preparing others for when Christ will come again. For you know neither the day nor the hour.
Jesus warns us that there are consequences for being unprepared. There are certain things we cannot obtain at the last moment. For example, a student cannot prepare for his/her SATs the day before testing. One who is seeking employment creates a resume highlighting particular character strengths and skills they have before having an interview with a perspective employer. We take time to prepare for what is ahead. The Lord invites us to feast at his banquet table. We will not be prepared to meet the Lord, face to face, when we are called, unless we listen to God calling us today.
I wonder, are we ready?
Oh Lord, giver of life and source of our freedom, we are reminded that Yours is “the earth in its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.” We know that it is from your hand that we have received all we have and are and will be. Gracious and loving God, we understand that you call us to be the stewards of Your abundance, the caretakers of all you have entrusted to us. Help us always to use your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. May our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Christ in our lives. We pray this with grateful hearts in Jesus’ name. Amen.[1]
[1] Stewardship Prayer www.archchicago.org