26 August 2016 - lightheaded

[ Today's Readings ]

We can't rely on others to keep our lamps lit.

The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’ 
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.

Other people can help in a variety of ways. But this oil, this most essential thing, is not a responsibility we can offload to others. This oil gives us the light to see the master coming. It casts out the darkness so we can go out to meet him when he calls.

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 

He calls us to the wedding feast but we need to have our lamps lit to recognize and heed the call. We can't get this from others. "For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom" but neither signs nor wisdom is sufficient to fuel our lamps. In a sense they are both too external. In another sense they both make us the arbiter of truth. We makes demands of God rather than accepting his revelation if we insist on them. Instead there is only one way that we can truly find the oil we need.

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven (see Matthew 16:17).

We need the oil of gladness that comes only from the Holy Spirit. He pours himself upon us to keep our lamps alight. He enlightens our eyes to recognize all of the ways the bridegroom calls us and comes to us. He convicts us of sin and empowers us to cast off the works of darkness. Let us look to the living water that pours for from Jesus.

but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Let us drink from this stream of delight so that no matter when the master calls we are ready to meet him with joy.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.