Bloghardt's Reflector

But He says, “Amen, Amen. I say to you, I don’t know you.”  Ouch.  That hurts.  

And then Jesus gives the meaning of the parable, “Watch therefore, cause you do not know neither the day nor the hour.”

It’s not that the moronic virgins were stupid.  They were not.  They had lamps and they fell asleep, they died, just like the prudent ones.  The difference was that the moronic virgins were just not... well prudent.  

So.. Which are you?  Wise or foolish?  Prudent or not prudent?

Well, how do you live?  The Bridegroom, Christ, has promised to return.  Do you live each day as if the Bridegroom is actually going to show up?  Do you make decisions as if Christ’s return is imminent?  

Or do you live each day as if Christ isn’t returning.  You do what you want.  You live the way you live.  You lie, cheat, and steal.  You talk about people behind their back, hate them in your heart, try to trip them up.  When they fail, you let them have it.  You give them what’s coming to them, don’t you?

And you get away with your sins... or you think you do. After your naughty deeds are done, you don’t think about them again - after all it’s not like Christ is coming back today.  You’ll fix it tomorrow or when you get older and out grow that sin.

I mean, it’s not like God’s gonna to get upset with you.  I mean, you are you.   Or maybe you can blame the next person - it was their fault, they should have known better, if you only knew what you are going through!   You know those kind of people.

But, have you considered that such things will get you tossed into hell?  An actual hell?  The outside-the-marriage-feast,-“I-never-knew-you”-hell.

Did you stop and think before you did that sin, before you tore that person up, before you spread that rumor, before you told that lie, that it’s just not worth it to do that sin and then to go hell.  

Or did you just not think about God at all while you were so busy thinking about yourself.

And when you are standing outside the marriage feast looking in and the Bridegroom has just said those horrifying words, “I never knew you,” to you.   Then, you’ll say to yourself as you hit your head against the door, “If I had just thought, if I had just taken it seriously that the Bridegroom was going to return, if I had just been .... prudent.”

Well, that wasn’t so fun, was it?  A happier thing to think about is the Bridegroom.  He’s the person to look to before you fall asleep!  He’s the only person who will save you!  

Jesus is an actual man - not was a man.  He is alive right now.  He’s not dead.  He’s the Bridegroom in parable and the One in the Gospel who lives His life for His Bride, the Church.  

 All that God asks and requires of you, the Man Jesus did for you and in your place.  Then, He suffered and died for all the prudent and moronic things you do daily and much.

So, all that you have done has been answered for by Him.  All that you do today, He has taken upon Himself.  All that you will do, He suffered and died for those sins too.  

You can’t keep God dead and this Jesus is God in the flesh.  So, after three days, He rose again.  He’s alive - never to die again.  He’s seated at the right hand of God’s majesty and power.  He has promised to return soon to take you from this world of suffering to be with Him forever.

So, when our Lord Jesus says “watch,” He would have you live like you actually believe that He is alive and coming back.  

He would have you believe what He says about His return is true.  His return is imminent.  Any day now.  Any hour now.  

He’s coming soon.  Real soon.  Like-not-the-never-coming-soon that you live like soon, but actually soon.  Like - I-sure-hope-I-don’t-have-to-finish-this-sermon soon.  And if I do, wouldn’t it be great if it were right after you said “amen” soon?  

That’s soon, isn’t it?  And when He comes, He’s not coming to catch you.  No, He’s coming to rescue you.  To bring you out of this world of pain to a heaven that you can only hear about from Him.  No more pain, no more suffering, no more sin, no more mess ups, and no more death. 

And you will be there - all of you.  He’s saved you.  He’s gone through death for you and He’s given you His life.  There simply is no Feast on the Last Day without you there to Feast with Him.

He would have you believe that.... That’s why He’s telling you this parable.

So, watch now.  Be aware.  Pay attention.   Expect it.   You don’t know the hour.  You don’t know the day.  You don’t the when.  

Repent of your sins, your living as if He’s not coming, as if you are on your own without God.  Turn from that and stop living that way.

And fill your lamp with His oil:  hear His Word, remember His Baptism, and receive His Absolution.  Fill the lamp of your life with His forgiveness. You can’t prepare any better than in His gifts!

And you don’t have to wait until the Last Day for His Feast.  No, today the Bridegroom invites you to His Supper.  The doors are open.  

Come in and eat His Body given for you.  Drink His Blood shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.  Here is oil - oil that will last unto eternal life!

This Sunday is the Last Sunday of the Church year.  The day where we consider the fulfillment of all things - the Last Day.  To help us, Jesus gives us the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.  Ten Virgins.  Five Prudent.  Five described in Greek as “morons.”  

Oh and oh yes, there’s that tardy Bridegroom who saves us.  

Dear prudent Virgins, expect Jesus.  Watch for Him.  Look for Him.  And if you should get sleepy as you wait and fall asleep, don’t fret.  He’s coming soon to rescue you.  He’ll keep His promise to you.  The call will come out soon!  

Behold the Bridegroom!  He’s here!  Trim your lamps!  Even so, come Lord Jesus.  In the Name of Jesus. Amen.