Frost on the roof-tops, drop in temperature as each day is colder than the day before, gardens harvested, eating supper after the sun has gone down, leaves falling and lying brown and withered -- something is happening and are we ready for what is coming? Foolish handmaids, wise handmaids -- oil in the lamp, heating oil in the tank. And what about the car? -- change to the winter tires. And the cottage? -- clear the water from the pipes.
I've been reviewing tips for closing down the cottage for the winter. Yes, we have to pull the dock up before the river freezes. However, the big item is the plumbing. We have to close the pump, drain the pipes, make sure that the water heater tank is properly shut off and emptied, empty the toilet and tank and then pour in some non-toxic chemical to seal off the sewer gases. Food items need to be brought home. Liquids that might freeze should be brought home. I still have a bit of painting to do -- but that paint should come south to be stored in a warm place for the winter. Anything of value that might be a temptation for thieves should be removed.
Most people close their cottages at Thanksgiving. We are trying to extend the season and will hopefully be like the five wise handmaids and we will move quickly to close before freezing temperatures can do their damage. The parable is speaking to me.
I must admit, however, that as I have heard this parable over the years I have wondered why the five wise handmaids did not share their oil with the five foolish handmaids. Isn't sharing a good thing? Of course, it may not have been considered a good thing if the light from the lamps needed to be extended over time to allow the bridegroom the time to settle in.
It strikes me that the parable might have been a challenge that Jesus put to the people of his time. In contrast to our highly individualist culture the people of Israel felt their salvation to be a matter of the group, the people. Salvation comes to the nation. But Jesus has something contrary to say with the parable. Being ready is not solely about the people's readiness as a whole; it is also very much about our individual readiness. Or perhaps I might say that the People comes to God one person at a time.
The five wise cannot share with the five foolish because when it comes to welcoming the Bridegroom (the Messiah Jesus) there is a sense in which each one has to do that for themselves. It does not work to drift into a relationship with Jesus -- hoping that we will be carried along by the crowd. No, each one of us is invited to stand up for ourselves, to live at the edge, challenged to respond, called out of passivity and inaction. Salvation is about the people as a whole, but it is also about the individual choices that we make. It is wisdom to be prepared to have oil in your own lamp. Work to be prepared without expectation that others will do the necessary for you. We do it together but no-one can do it for us.
Do you remember the 1961 film, The Guns of Navarone? I watched a clip on YouTube: Gregory Peck to David Niven: "You think that you have been getting away with it all this time, standing by, well son your by-standing days are over ...."
For some reason as a teenager that film made me want to work for peace -- to commit myself. Our celebration of Remembrance Day should be done in the spirit of those who recognize that passivity, inaction, leaving it to others, failure to ask questions, lack of engagement in the politics of our time, are at the source of war. We are not ready for the coming of the Bridegroom if we are not ready to engage the troubles and issues of our time. No matter our age or station in life, we are all capable of asking questions, of struggling to understand, of reaching mature judgements and acting responsibly. We are all gifted with the ability to grow, to develop, to contribute and to be peace makers. Let our lamps be lit and let us live with the vital energy that expects the coming of the Bridgroom. In Jesus name we pray.
..The 5 old bags that didn't share their oil had reasons not to share for themselves and for the 5 that had no oil. The oily 5 would not have helped if they gave un-thinkingly because there would have been no remedy for the problem of the un-oily 5. They all would have suffered, with no lesson learned. Charity should be directed, no?
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