3rd Advent 2020, Come, O Wisdom

3rd Advent

Matthew 25:1-13

The kingdom in the heavens will be

Thomas Cooper Gotch

like ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. But five of them were dull of soul, and five were alert and prudent. The foolish took their lamps without taking any oil with them. The wise ones took flasks of oil for their lamps. Now, because the bridegroom was a long time coming, they all became drowsy and were sleeping. But in the middle of the night, the call went up: Behold, the bridegroom! Go forth to meet him!

Then all the maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out."

But the wise ones said, "No, the oil would not be enough for us and for you as well. Rather go to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves." And while they were away buying, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready to receive him went with him into the wedding feast, and the doors were shut.

Afterward, the other maidens came also and said, "Lord, Lord, open to us!"

But he replied, "Truly, I say to you, I do not know you."

So be alert of soul, since you do not know the day or the hour.

3^rd Advent
December 13, 2020
Matthew 25:1-13
 
When we were children, we took things as they came. If we were lucky, we could trust that our parents or caretakers would provide for us. When we grew older, we could speak of a larger Providence, of the idea that God would provide the opportunity and resources we need to survive and thrive.

William Blake 

Today's reading takes human evolution a step further. Our consciousness has grown to include foresight. For humanity is now meant to provide and offer something to God. Christ is on His way to wed the soul of humanity. Humanity's Bridegroom is coming. He needs the light provided by our wide-awake awareness, our presence of mind, our foresight. He needs the light of our well-stocked inner lamps so that we can travel with Him to the great wedding feast, lighting His way. The five wise maidens have taken over Providence's task: they themselves have provided the inner lamp oil that will light the Bridegroom's path forward.

We may think that the wise maidens should have shared. Are they selfish? No, in this instance, they are providing not just oil but foresight. They know that by dividing the oil, no one's light would last for the whole journey. And then everyone would be in the dark, unable to continue. This is not the moment for being nice. It is the moment for being fully and wisely prepared to contribute to a strong collective effort in meeting the Bridegroom.

A traditional antiphon for this time of the year, O Emmanuel, is rendered by Malcolm Guite:

O come, O come, and be our God-with-us
O long-sought With-ness for a world without,
O secret seed, O hidden spring of light.
Come to us Wisdom, come unspoken Name
Come Root, and Key, and King, and holy Flame,
O quickened little wick so tightly curled,
Be folded with us into time and place,
Unfold for us the mystery of grace
And make a womb of all this wounded world.
O heart of heaven beating in the earth,
O tiny hope within our hopelessness
Come to be born, to bear us to our birth,
To touch a dying world with new-made hands
And make these rags of time our swaddling bands.*
 
*Malcolm Guite, "O Emmanuel"

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