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The Last Sunday of the Church Year, November 24, 2024

For first century eastern Mediterranean society, wedding festivities were lengthy, multi-local, and very physical. The wedding usually encompassed two places, the bride’s family home and the groom’s home prepared to receive the bride. The festivities began at the bridegroom’s home where a parade of family and friends assembled for the march through town to the home of the bride. At the home of the bride, more family and friends were gathered and the whole lot paraded back to the home prepared by the bridegroom. Once there, the marriage would be consummated while the crowd waited anxiously to see evidence of the bride’s virginity. Once evidence was displayed, all those gathered erupted into feasting and celebration that might last days.

The ten virgins in our story have gathered outside the bridegroom’s home and await the arrival of the bride and the bridegroom. For, when they arrive, the marriage will be consummated, the evidence of virginity produced, and the celebration and feasting begun in earnest. Those virgins with oil were there at the gate to welcome the arriving nuptial couple. Those virgins without sufficient oil, and without friends who would share their oil, abandoned their post in search of oil to buy. While they were gone, the nuptial couple arrived, those present went in with them, and the door was locked behind them. There is no mention that the bridegroom checked the oil on the lamps of the waiting virgins. But we are told, that when the other virgins arrived and pleaded to enter, the bridegroom answered with abrupt and surly words, “I do not know you!” Perhaps he had no appreciation for their tardiness and interruption of his marriage consummation.

“Be prepared!” That’s a popular message drawn from this parable. More aptly, one might say, “Be present!” The arrival of the bridegroom and his bride thrust an immediacy upon the waiting guests, including those “well-oiled” virgins. The time of preparation is over… the time of waiting, done… there is no more time. The oil supply issue distracts the foolish ones from being present at the immediacy of the nuptial couple’s arrival, leaving them shut out.

Table Talk: Discuss the distinction between immediacy and urgency.

Pray: Father, hold me with no distraction as I await Christ’s coming. Amen

Matthew 25:1–13

1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.