Palestinian weddings were different. They happened at night…when the work of the day was completed. The bridegroom would go to the bride’s parent’s house and get the bride. It would be one last and final opportunity to haggle over the dowry-price with his future father-in-law. Then he would bring his bride to his father’s house, where the festivities would begin.
The task of the bridesmaids was to welcome the bridegroom when he arrived…and to light the couple’s way as they journeyed out into the night.
So all ten bridesmaids begin the vigil of waiting for the bridegroom to arrive…
Middle Eastern schedules of the ancient world were not at all “time oriented.” You basically show up, when you show up…
So the bridesmaids wait…and they wait…and they wait some more … until collectively “they all” fall asleep…
Suddenly there is a fuss, flutter and racket as the bridegroom approaches. Now is their moment, it is their time to shine.
But there is a problem the olive oil for their lamps is running low…how will they be able to light the couple’s way to the groom’s house?
It was “crisis time.”
Oil was depleted.
We’ve all been there, tired, stressed, drained, empty and exhausted. Maybe we even felt depleted! None of us are strangers. We know each other quite well. We even joke about “running on empty.”
Sometimes we think that there are no reserves…so we panic. There is nowhere to turn. No place to go.
Often times on a Sunday, I find myself turning off lights. I do “a building walk through.” I look forward to entering the chancel and sanctuary area again. It is different when you are alone in the building.
It is not at all uncommon for me to find items left behind. A single glove here, discarded candy wrapper there, Kleenex dropped and forgotten. A communion slip, pencil on the floor and a bulletin with a shopping list written in the margins. I laugh to myself when I realize “what that says” about my sermons…they are so riveting…it is a time for making out your shopping list.
That’ll humble you-real quick!
It’s at times like these….that I hope and pray that other stuff has been left behind. God, I hope it is so.
It would be nice to think that over here a lady’s deep grief was left behind…and over there a man’s bitter disappointment. Someone else left behind their most recent failure. I want to believe that someone left behind some “secret sin” that they just can’t tell to anyone. And over there is the fear of a small child at bed time that they just gave up to God.
It would be nice to think that hurt, pain and resentment could be left behind…and maybe some prejudice or some bigotry. A bruised ego would be another good find, as would the remains of a heated argument.
There is a time when we have to “Let Go – And Let God,” you know! This is a good place to leave stuff behind in…And then, there are things that you can take with you – like “realized forgiveness” and God’s grace and mercy and love…
This is a place where you can go, to renew, to get a boost, to feel better, to be set free, to replenish…to feel a part of…
Drained we can be refilled. We can draw our strength from God, from our joint and shared meal, from the strength of each other, from prayer and from music. The grace of God is a “renewable resource”…the scriptures can indeed speak to us…and new direction can be found. Forgiveness originates here regularly – but never routinely.
If your flame is burning down or is about to go out completely – there are always the words of “THE BRIDEGROOM” – “Come to me all you who labor and bear heavy burdens and I will give you rest…”
But more than that there is also refreshment, renewal and replenishment available.
We also have our support and addiction groups here that are present to help rekindle – flickering flames…
As forgiven sinners and as ALL SAINTS we are a living embodiment of Isaiah’s prophecy…that “a bruised reed he will not break and dimly burning wick he will not quench…”
Jesus gave himself for the very likes of us – and is present with us – during every step of our journey.
He not only replenishes us – but he fills us up and our cup runneth over…
We are strengthened and strengthened again and again.
People who are wise know where to go and their lamps are still trimmed with the oil of his grace. Amen.