Sunday, November 8, 2020

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Psalm 78:1-7
Second Reading: I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

5 were prepared and 5 were not prepared. 

Instead of being ready, expectant, and fully equipped, the real travesty for half of them is they were cavalier about it all.  It was not until they were trimming the lamp’s wick that they realized they were short on fuel.  They were casual about the whole thing.  They should have been anticipating what was going on and what was going to happen.

I wonder, I wonder if given where we are in this moment in our world if we have been too cavalier?  This pandemic and the cultural division have surfaced the reality that we have been cavalier as the Church.  We have assumed that we would go on worshiping and having the church as we design and desire.  We have also been cavalier about our secular life.  Political ranker has become cancerous unlike any of us have ever witnessed.

For those bridesmaids, the real travesty was that this was a really big moment, and they were checked out when they should have been checked in.  As I read this parable, that is the issue—being checked in to or out of the reality of the moment to which we have arrived. 

Are we checked in to the reality of the moment?

Are we checked in to the reality that we are called to proclaim the Gospel in new ways in order to be Christ’s disciples?

Are we checked in to the reality that we are to be the peacemakers in this world?

Are we checked in to the reality that people with whom we disagree are not enemies but beloved children of God as we are?

Are we checked in to the reality that the ONLY answer to any of this is love for each other?

Are we checked in to the reality that if we are holding back our oil at home rather that pouring it into our lamps and letting the light shine in the world …oh, are we checked in enough to realize that we can burn bright for Christ?

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk