Sermon Tone Analysis

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Proper 27
Pentecost 24
Ordinary Time 32
12. Prepared Or Not?
Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this.
Ten
bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3When the
foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the
wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
5As the bridegroom was
delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.
6But at midnight
there was a shout, 'Look!
Here is the bridegroom!
Come out to
meet him.'
7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their
lamps.
8The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.' 9But the wise replied, 'No! there
will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the
dealers and buy some for yourselves.' 10And while they went to
buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with
him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.
11Later the
other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'
12But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 13Keep
awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
Weddings are wonderful!
That is an expression you may hear
frequently at the announcement of such an event.
A lot of
planning and expense usually go into making the event a special
and joyous time.
In our culture family and friends will travel
long distances to be present at the ceremony.
Almost every culture has extensive traditions and customs
surrounding a wedding.
They underscore the importance of the
167
event.
In our culture marriage is regulated by law.
The state
assumes that it has a stake in the proper arrangements and
certification of a marriage.
A wedding is an important and
joyful community event.
The parable for today draws on the wedding ceremony and the
traditions that surround it.
Unhappy are those who for lack of
adequate preparation miss the wedding.
So are those who miss the
kingdom of heaven and its joys.
Context
Context of the Lectionary
The parable and the following two come toward the end of the
church year.
It is fitting that the Gospel readings are three
parables dealing with eschatology.
They are three of the most
familiar parables: the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins,
the parable of the Talents and the parable of the Separation of
the Sheep and Goats.
Each of the parables deals with separation
between those rewarded or accepted into the kingdom and those who
are not.
Context of Matthew
The parable and the next two are placed in the last block of
teaching materials in Matthew before the account of the final
events of Jesus' life.
They each give a likeness to the
consequences of persons' response to the kingdom.
The parable of
the Wise and Foolish Virgins concludes with the rejection of
those who do not prepare adequately for the coming of final
events in history.
The parable of the Talents speaks of wasted
use of opportunities to act for the kingdom.
The third portrays
a final judgment between those who act on behalf of the kingdom
in this world and those who do not act in accord with its
character.
Context of a Wedding
Jesus frequently compares the kingdom to a glorious feast
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of the king or of a wedding.
In a Jewish wedding the bride waits
at her father's house until the bridegroom comes to get her.
She
then accompanies him to his house where the ceremony takes place.
On the way other participants in the wedding join the party and
accompany the bridegroom and the bride to the festivities.
The time when the bridegroom would arrive to claim his bride
was uncertain so that it would be a surprise.
The bridegroom
would come at night, so lamps were needed.
Lamps were small clay
vessels affixed to a staff.
The vessels contained olive oil and
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