Remembrance Sunday Sermon 9th November 2008
Today our Vicar, Cameron Barker preaches, based on the reading from Matthew 25: 1-13.
What's happening in 46 days' time? ... Yes, it's Christmas! In honour of that fact, would you all please stand ... If you have made absolutely no preparations at all for Christmas so far, please sit ... If you've only got as far as writing your Christmas to-do list, even on paper, please sit ... If you have only got as far as inviting your Christmas Day guests please sit ... If you have only got as far as buying your Christmas cards, please sit ... If you've only got as far as buying all your Christmas presents, please sit ... If you have only got as far as wrapping those presents, please sit ... If you have only got as far as ordering a Christmas tree, please sit ... If you're still stood, [what, no-one is?!] I say, 'congratulations – you are as ready for Christmas as you could reasonably expect to be on 9th of November'!
Now I'll admit that I would have been staggered if anyone had still been standing at the end! I certainly wouldn't have been! Like you, I'm thinking that there are still 46 days to go. There's plenty of time to get ready for Christmas yet. I know when it is coming – so I don't have to do too much about it right now. I'm sure that I will be ready when we get there, even if it does mean wrapping presents after the midnight service! But I wonder if there's a key spiritual challenge for us all in that attitude – and one that we need to address today!
Now I know that this is the stuff of Advent Sunday, really. But our Matthew series has brought us to this point rather earlier in the year than usual. And that's no bad thing, I'd say. Maybe we're doing ourselves a serious disservice if we think that we only need to focus on this topic on one Sunday a year. This is an issue that could and should really shape the whole of our lives. And, if you don't believe that's true, then hear again Jesus' words at the end of today's parable: “Be on your guard, then, / Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the hour or the day”.
Jesus was, of course, talking about the day of his return. We have moved on in Matthew since last week, skipping more than chapter. On Advent Sunday we'll study Mark's version of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 24, where he spoke about his return. The bottom line, as many of us know, is that Jesus didn't make it clear when that would happen – just that it would. So time and again, as he did here, Jesus told his disciples to be on their guard / keep watch – because they didn't know when he'd be back. Unlike Christmas, this isn't a fixed event. So the disciples' job was – as ours is – to be ready for Jesus' return, no matter when it happens. They needed to be ready – as we do – because it's a literally world-ending event!
Jesus finished the previous chapter with 2 mini-parables about his return. Unsurprisingly, the focus of his teaching there was on the disciples' need to be ready for his return at all times. That remains his theme at the start of this chapter: be ready! In fact, this chapter is comprised of three parables, all unique to Matthew. They are each on the topic of being ready for Jesus' return – whenever that may happen. The second and third parables offer us practical pictures of what 'being ready' looks like. We'll end this series next week with one of those practical pictures. But today we'll stick with the key general point: our need to be ready at all times for Jesus' return – because we don't know when that will be.
There is a clear appropriateness to studying this parable on Remembrance Sunday. On this day we remember with thanks those who were ready when the critical time came. Obviously that time was different for them: it wasn't world-ending in the sense that Jesus' return will be. But anyone who reads history will know the potential for catastrophe that brave men and women were ready to respond to in both World Wars. Many of them paid the ultimate price for that – and today is a day to be deeply grateful for that. But it's also a day to be challenged by their example, by their readiness, I think. So, even in our gratitude, we need to ask how ready we are for the crisis that we might face, at any time.
The particular crisis that Jesus challenged his disciples – and challenges us – to face is that of his return. He did so here by telling another one of his stories. As we've often seen in this series, this was Jesus' favourite teaching method, telling stories. Like so many of his other stories, this one was based on everyday life in Jesus' time. Unfortunately, there are very few records of what happened at a 1st-century wedding in Palestine! But there are enough traditions still around today that help us to understand this story. It was customary, for example, for weddings to take place at night. The groom would go to the bride's house for the final negotiations before the ceremony itself – and that could result in delays. Only when it was all done would the bride and groom go back to his house for the reception.
Obviously the main guests would be at the bride's house from the start. But apparently it was tradition that others could join in the procession to the groom's house. They were welcome to the feast – specially if they honoured the couple by lighting the way to the party. And so that's what the 10 women in Jesus' story were waiting for that night – to join the procession, and so the party. But, as it turned out, not all of them were ready to do that. Some of them were not ready, because they hadn't all made the necessary preparations ahead of time! Specifically, half of these women hadn't taken any spare oil for their lamp in case there was a delay. And that proved to be a serious problem for them.
As usual, there are parts of this story that we're not to take too literally. I wonder for example if 24-hour shopping did exist back then! And, if we just take it at surface value, we could be surprised by the lack of generosity of the five women who did have enough oil. In the same way, the refusal of the groom to allow the women into the party late is a shock. But both refusals are in this story to make a point that we all need to hear – and to take careful note of. You see, “at that time” we won't be able to rely on anybody else for what we need. And the stark truth is that there will come a time when it is too late for us to change our future.
That phrase, at that time, is an important one to note. Yes, this is another of Jesus' parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. But it's specifically about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like at that time – in other words: at the time of Jesus' return. Things will clearly be different then to how they are now. Now is our time to get ready for that critical event. Then, at that time, it will be too late. We have to grasp that truth now, while we can – and then act decisively on it. Jesus' return not like Christmas: we don't know exactly when it will be too late to be ready for it. But one day – maybe even tomorrow – it will be too late. So, are you prepared for that day now?
As I said, the two other parables that Jesus told in this chapter offer us specific ways in which we can get ready for that day, for his return. And we will look at one of them next week – if we can! But first we have to take this whole issue as seriously as it needs to be taken. And so my hope is that this simple story about these ten women has helped us to do just that. I know it's not Advent Sunday; but today we do each need to ask ourselves if we are ready for that day, for Jesus to return. And, if we're not, then what do we need to do about that – today.
There is so much more that could be said – about this parable, and about being ready for Jesus' return. But because we're keeping things shorter than normal today, I'll end with this key point. The groom refused the women late entry to the feast with this cutting phrase: “I don't know you”! Next week we will see specific ways in which we can be ready for Jesus' return. But those are entirely dependent on him knowing us. So, have you made yourself known to God by offering your life to him? If not, there will be a time when it will be too late to do that. “Be on your guard, then / Therefore keep watch – because you do not know the hour or the day”. Lets pray
What's happening in 46 days' time? ... Yes, it's Christmas! In honour of that fact, would you all please stand ... If you have made absolutely no preparations at all for Christmas so far, please sit ... If you've only got as far as writing your Christmas to-do list, even on paper, please sit ... If you have only got as far as inviting your Christmas Day guests please sit ... If you have only got as far as buying your Christmas cards, please sit ... If you've only got as far as buying all your Christmas presents, please sit ... If you have only got as far as wrapping those presents, please sit ... If you have only got as far as ordering a Christmas tree, please sit ... If you're still stood, [what, no-one is?!] I say, 'congratulations – you are as ready for Christmas as you could reasonably expect to be on 9th of November'!
Now I'll admit that I would have been staggered if anyone had still been standing at the end! I certainly wouldn't have been! Like you, I'm thinking that there are still 46 days to go. There's plenty of time to get ready for Christmas yet. I know when it is coming – so I don't have to do too much about it right now. I'm sure that I will be ready when we get there, even if it does mean wrapping presents after the midnight service! But I wonder if there's a key spiritual challenge for us all in that attitude – and one that we need to address today!
Now I know that this is the stuff of Advent Sunday, really. But our Matthew series has brought us to this point rather earlier in the year than usual. And that's no bad thing, I'd say. Maybe we're doing ourselves a serious disservice if we think that we only need to focus on this topic on one Sunday a year. This is an issue that could and should really shape the whole of our lives. And, if you don't believe that's true, then hear again Jesus' words at the end of today's parable: “Be on your guard, then, / Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the hour or the day”.
Jesus was, of course, talking about the day of his return. We have moved on in Matthew since last week, skipping more than chapter. On Advent Sunday we'll study Mark's version of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 24, where he spoke about his return. The bottom line, as many of us know, is that Jesus didn't make it clear when that would happen – just that it would. So time and again, as he did here, Jesus told his disciples to be on their guard / keep watch – because they didn't know when he'd be back. Unlike Christmas, this isn't a fixed event. So the disciples' job was – as ours is – to be ready for Jesus' return, no matter when it happens. They needed to be ready – as we do – because it's a literally world-ending event!
Jesus finished the previous chapter with 2 mini-parables about his return. Unsurprisingly, the focus of his teaching there was on the disciples' need to be ready for his return at all times. That remains his theme at the start of this chapter: be ready! In fact, this chapter is comprised of three parables, all unique to Matthew. They are each on the topic of being ready for Jesus' return – whenever that may happen. The second and third parables offer us practical pictures of what 'being ready' looks like. We'll end this series next week with one of those practical pictures. But today we'll stick with the key general point: our need to be ready at all times for Jesus' return – because we don't know when that will be.
There is a clear appropriateness to studying this parable on Remembrance Sunday. On this day we remember with thanks those who were ready when the critical time came. Obviously that time was different for them: it wasn't world-ending in the sense that Jesus' return will be. But anyone who reads history will know the potential for catastrophe that brave men and women were ready to respond to in both World Wars. Many of them paid the ultimate price for that – and today is a day to be deeply grateful for that. But it's also a day to be challenged by their example, by their readiness, I think. So, even in our gratitude, we need to ask how ready we are for the crisis that we might face, at any time.
The particular crisis that Jesus challenged his disciples – and challenges us – to face is that of his return. He did so here by telling another one of his stories. As we've often seen in this series, this was Jesus' favourite teaching method, telling stories. Like so many of his other stories, this one was based on everyday life in Jesus' time. Unfortunately, there are very few records of what happened at a 1st-century wedding in Palestine! But there are enough traditions still around today that help us to understand this story. It was customary, for example, for weddings to take place at night. The groom would go to the bride's house for the final negotiations before the ceremony itself – and that could result in delays. Only when it was all done would the bride and groom go back to his house for the reception.
Obviously the main guests would be at the bride's house from the start. But apparently it was tradition that others could join in the procession to the groom's house. They were welcome to the feast – specially if they honoured the couple by lighting the way to the party. And so that's what the 10 women in Jesus' story were waiting for that night – to join the procession, and so the party. But, as it turned out, not all of them were ready to do that. Some of them were not ready, because they hadn't all made the necessary preparations ahead of time! Specifically, half of these women hadn't taken any spare oil for their lamp in case there was a delay. And that proved to be a serious problem for them.
As usual, there are parts of this story that we're not to take too literally. I wonder for example if 24-hour shopping did exist back then! And, if we just take it at surface value, we could be surprised by the lack of generosity of the five women who did have enough oil. In the same way, the refusal of the groom to allow the women into the party late is a shock. But both refusals are in this story to make a point that we all need to hear – and to take careful note of. You see, “at that time” we won't be able to rely on anybody else for what we need. And the stark truth is that there will come a time when it is too late for us to change our future.
That phrase, at that time, is an important one to note. Yes, this is another of Jesus' parables about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. But it's specifically about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like at that time – in other words: at the time of Jesus' return. Things will clearly be different then to how they are now. Now is our time to get ready for that critical event. Then, at that time, it will be too late. We have to grasp that truth now, while we can – and then act decisively on it. Jesus' return not like Christmas: we don't know exactly when it will be too late to be ready for it. But one day – maybe even tomorrow – it will be too late. So, are you prepared for that day now?
As I said, the two other parables that Jesus told in this chapter offer us specific ways in which we can get ready for that day, for his return. And we will look at one of them next week – if we can! But first we have to take this whole issue as seriously as it needs to be taken. And so my hope is that this simple story about these ten women has helped us to do just that. I know it's not Advent Sunday; but today we do each need to ask ourselves if we are ready for that day, for Jesus to return. And, if we're not, then what do we need to do about that – today.
There is so much more that could be said – about this parable, and about being ready for Jesus' return. But because we're keeping things shorter than normal today, I'll end with this key point. The groom refused the women late entry to the feast with this cutting phrase: “I don't know you”! Next week we will see specific ways in which we can be ready for Jesus' return. But those are entirely dependent on him knowing us. So, have you made yourself known to God by offering your life to him? If not, there will be a time when it will be too late to do that. “Be on your guard, then / Therefore keep watch – because you do not know the hour or the day”. Lets pray
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