Proper 27 (A) + All together + 11.12.17
M. Campbell-Langdell
All Santos, Oxnard
(Joshua
24:1–3a, 14–25; Ps. 78:1–7; 1 Thess. 4:13–18; Matthew 25:1–13)
One of my friends is living in
Germany right now and posts on Facebook that all around her are signs of
Advent’s coming season. There are all sorts of Advent calendars and even cards
you can send to someone wishing them a “Happy Advent-tide.” They really get
into it.
But you would hardly know it
here, where the day before Halloween I was at a home improvement store and the
Halloween goods were half off and the aisles were stacked with Christmas
decorations. But in subtle ways, we know. The weather is turning. And our
scriptures give us clues of our ancient rhythms.
This time of year we turn
towards Advent in our scriptures. We begin to await Jesus in a much more active
way, and this is evident in this and next week’s scriptures.
We are reminded of a central
matter of Christian life – Jesus came, yes, we wait because Jesus will come
again. But what do we do now? Surely the Christian life is not just to twiddle
our thumbs and act “hopeful.”
And that would be a tall order
nowadays, what with the goings on. Last Sunday, in the afternoon I learned of
the awful gun violence in Sutherland Springs, TX – in a church and I imagine
like many of you, I was gob-smacked. Immediately I was praying for all the
dead, the families involved and for that community. In short order I heard many
calls online for “no more thoughts and prayers.” Now I know that a certain
politician mentioned this and it was deemed an empty statement by some. I don’t
dispute that it can seem to be a way of saying nothing.
But a colleague of mine
reminded us: Thoughts and prayers are not just empty words, but when they take
the form of actions they are powerful. I would add: our thoughts and prayers
are useless if not put into action.
That means something different
for each of us. But I think we do ask God to break our heart with what breaks
God’s heart. And then to respond as we individually feel led.
So to look at the scripture today, we have the wise and foolish virgins. They are waiting for a wedding feast and bring their lamps along. The wise ones know that wedding feasts are long affairs and that the bridegroom might be delayed. So they bring extra supplies. Not so the foolish. So they all fall asleep and then realize, yikes, I better scramble- except that the foolish ones miss the party.
So to look at the scripture today, we have the wise and foolish virgins. They are waiting for a wedding feast and bring their lamps along. The wise ones know that wedding feasts are long affairs and that the bridegroom might be delayed. So they bring extra supplies. Not so the foolish. So they all fall asleep and then realize, yikes, I better scramble- except that the foolish ones miss the party.
What I take out of this
passage is that the wise believer, the mature believer, prepares for the long
haul of faith. Our job as Christians is to wait for the return of the
bridegroom (as Jesus is clearly preparing the listeners for his second return
here). And thus while waiting, as we mature in the faith, we also learn how to
restore our light or energy. Literally this means to learn how to hang in
there. Because the light can be a symbol for our discipleship and the need to
“keep the faith” for the long haul.
But I think if you read it another way, this passage is also a reminder of the need for kindness-one commentator pointed out that they could have all entered if the wise had shared their oil.[1] Or what about extinguishing one lamp and rationing the flame? They could have worked together. Collaboration may be another way we are called to respond to the waiting.
But I think if you read it another way, this passage is also a reminder of the need for kindness-one commentator pointed out that they could have all entered if the wise had shared their oil.[1] Or what about extinguishing one lamp and rationing the flame? They could have worked together. Collaboration may be another way we are called to respond to the waiting.
So, how can we be ready when
Jesus comes? Not just symbolically into our homes this year, but when Jesus
comes again? Thoughts and prayers will help, but then they turn into figuring
out how to do God’s work together.
The same thing applies to the
church. Today we talk about vision as a part of our Stewardship activities with
the church.
So we know that we get
together with our thoughts and prayers in worship, and then that turns into action.
So let me re-state the vision and mission of All Saints / Todos los Santos:
So let me re-state the vision and mission of All Saints / Todos los Santos:
We are a welcoming,
multi-cultural, open-minded community that listens to the Spirit, is committed
to bringing others to Christ and to sharing the bread of life, both physical
and eternal, and to helping our neighbor, using the gifts God has given us, in
this community, Oxnard, and the world.
This means to me:
That we have open arms- we do
a good job of welcoming all who come into our door as if they were Christ even
as we continually learn how to also practice healthy boundaries.
We share good news – both
within worship and we strive to do so as we are led outside these doors.
We teach the children and
build up the adults – this is an area of growth for us, as we continue to learn
how best to do Christian education. But it is the spiritual bread of life we
strive to share with parishioners of all ages.
We wish to heal the earth- I
believe this may seem tangential to the mission/vision statement but has become
a central tenet in our education and other programs and in our community garden
program.
We respond to local needs. We reach
out to homeless, outcast, those who cannot come to church for physical or other
limitations. Sometimes we serve dinner, or host pantries or other activities.
Sometimes we just talk or bring ashes or host events. These are all ways to say
to the people that have been cast aside: You Matter. This is helping our
neighbor.
We also help our neigbors
around the world by responding to wider US and world needs- be they in Burma,
Puerto Rico or elsewhere. Be they through the African Team Ministry. And more. And
here is another place for prayer and action. We pray for the persecuted church
around the world- for example, not only for persecuted Muslims but Christians
too in Burma. And in all other places where our brothers and sisters suffer.
This being of service to
Oxnard also means we respond to civic needs. This is in part through hosting
events that benefit our community. It can also go back to “thoughts and
prayers,” as we regularly pray for our community. But also as we are led our
members might serve local needs in concrete action through Family Promise and
attendance at Oxnard City Council meetings. Or our parishioners might call
congress as an extension of being of service. The collaboration we are in now
hosting the Trans Day of Remembrance next Sunday is opening up a way to
encourage others who may have been mistreated or neglected by the church. There
are so many ways. The idea is that we all be builders-up rather than a tearers-down.
So those are just some ways I
see our vision for All Saints’ role in our community as it is fleshed out.
Today we invite you to share some of your thoughts.
Truly, the only way to prepare
for Jesus’ coming again is to keep kindling the light. Do not neglect what is
yours to share but be kind with those who are less wise or spiritually mature. Not
all will think to bring extra oil.
But let us encourage each other anyway.
But let us encourage each other anyway.
Because thoughts and prayers
turn into action and love is a powerful force. A song by David LaMotte called
“Just one Candle” has a bridge and refrain that say a lot:
“You can shrug and say love is a powerless tool
That the real world is heartless and that hope is for fools
But I’ve watched for the sunrise, and the truth is I’ve found
It’s not Light that is fragile, it’s the other way ‘round
That the real world is heartless and that hope is for fools
But I’ve watched for the sunrise, and the truth is I’ve found
It’s not Light that is fragile, it’s the other way ‘round
And all the darkness in the world can’t extinguish the
light of just one candle
All the darkness in the world can’t extinguish the light of just one candle”[2]
All the darkness in the world can’t extinguish the light of just one candle”[2]
Let us light our lamps. Let us
encourage one another in turning thoughts and prayers into loving action.
So that we can all come into
the big ole wedding feast together, hand in hand. Just like we sometimes say
the Lord’s Prayer, hand in hand we enter to see the bridegroom at last!
[1] Audrey West, “Living by the Word:
Reflections on the lectionary for November 12, 32nd Sunday in
Ordinary Time,” Christian Century, October 25, 2017.
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