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.

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.

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:

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.

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

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]

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!

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[1] Audrey West, “Living by the Word: Reflections on the lectionary for November 12, 32^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time,” Christian Century, October 25, 2017.

[2] https://www.davidlamotte.com/2013/just-one-candle/.