Be Prepared And Watchful!

 Sunday 110820

Today’s Holy Scriptures are all about wisdom. We need God’s wisdom in every area of our lives. Growing up in Africa, our culture encouraged us to sit often with elders to listen to their wisdom. Elders were like walking libraries, they knew a lot about how they navigated life in times of wars, in times of peace. Their stories were unforgettable. We learned valuable lessons we still use to this day. We need God’s wisdom when it comes to our daily choices; or important decisions in life, especially how to deal with and accept the uncertainties of life. For e.g. this pandemic taught us that things in life can change quickly, so we need wisdom and skills to adapt. Jesus also made an allusion to wisdom in his parable of the ten bridesmaids. He spoke about the wisdom and need to be prepared. I am sure, some of you are good planners, you plan ahead because when the time comes, things get easier. Right? Unfortunately, if there is anything my culture didn’t prepare me for, is planning ahead. So please, be my teacher! The way Jesus was talking about the wisdom of being prepared is serious: it was a warning of an impending disaster. Jesus predicted the end and urged his disciples to be prepared, least they (or we) downplay it like people did in the time of Noah’s world flood when they laughed out loud seeing no cloud in the sky and thinking there is no way rain is coming.

Beginning in Chapter 24, Jesus had predicted how his second coming will be totally unexpected. Many people will be unprepared. Chapter 25 has three parables that reinforces this message. The 1st is today’s parable of the 10 Bridesmaids which has history in Palestine: A wedding did bring the community together. Since there were no honeymoons, the newlywed couple would take a longer route for a maximum of well-wishers…they would be treated like royalty for a week. Frequently, the bridegroom would delay his arrival in the night, so the guests were expected to be awake and bearing their lamps to begin the celebrations. The idea here of the wisdom of ‘being prepared’ is so we don’t get left out once the bridegroom arrives and catch us unaware or unprepared.

Jesus’ point in all this is that we need wisdom so we can be prepared! Unfortunately some people will be like the 5 foolish girls who did not plan to have adequate reserve of oil in their lamps. They are those who will downplay Jesus message thinking: “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” This thinking has been around for thousands of years but there is a much more recent acronym of YOLO (meaning: you only live once) It is a thinking that allows reckless or foolish decisions because, “Why not? We’re only on this earth once!” Jesus warns against this thinking because it is the epitome of ‘unpreparedness’.

When the war began in Rwanda, we were totally unprepared: My family didn’t have enough gas for our car, not enough cash, no bank would open until months later. Did we learn anything? I don’t know, maybe! The idea of unpreparedness has devastating consequences and Jesus warns us: We ought to be diligent and attentive in our walk with God: Keep the prayers continuous, stay in the presence of the Lord, let God know of your burdens… Be strong in your faith, be filled with the Holy Spirit… That’s our preparedness, that’s filling our lamps with oil.

The world we live in has foolishness guaranteed for anyone who is not watching carefully. This parable warns us to watch it carefully.

Begin to seek the wisdom of God and be prepared!

Amen

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