11.8.2026 - 24th Sunday after Pentecost - Kris Perkola

In this passage, Jesus tells the parable of The Ten Bridesmaids about the importance of staying vigilant for his sake. The context for this passage is probably related to the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by the Romans in the 70s AD. Matthew’s community was distraught that God had allowed this sacred city and building to be destroyed by their occupiers. Moreover, those who expected Jesus to return soon in glory would have thought no better time could come for his return than to stop the Romans. If Jesus wouldn’t come back then, would he ever come back? 

In the passage, ten bridesmaids wait for the return of the bridegroom with his bride, probably after lengthy negotiations with the bride’s father. The maidens expect that the groom might take a while, so they carry lamps to greet him if he returns after dark. The groom is delayed even longer than some of the maidens expected, however, such that only the wise ones have enough oil to cover the extra time in light. The so-called foolish bridesmaids ask for oil from the wise, but they are denied. Forced to go buy extra oil, they miss the return of the groom. When they do return, the groom is angry and claims to not know them, denying them entrance to the party inside.

 This story can seem extra harsh to us because the maidens make an honest mistake. They did try to anticipate a minor delay because they brought their lamps, but it just wasn’t enough. It’s also possible to doubt that the wise women couldn’t spare even a little oil for them. But it’s important to remember the context of the story. Some in Matthew’s community were beginning to doubt there ever would be a Second Coming of Jesus. That’s foolishness to Matthew, and he presents this parable to encourage them to continue to behave like Jesus could come back at any time.

 For us, we’ve been waiting on Jesus to return for thousands of years, far longer than Matthew’s community. Given how long we’ve been waiting, it’s even easier for us to doubt Jesus will ever return. It’s still useful to ask ourselves though, “Would Jesus be pleased with how I’m living my life if he came back at this very moment?” I can’t imagine Jesus saying what the groom says at the end of this passage, but I can imagine him saying something like, “It’slike I don’t even know you!” if our behaviour was particularly out of step with who we’ve been called to be as his disciples. 

So let us take precautions against this possibility. Keep “extra fuel” on hand to keep helping others, welcoming them and sharing the gospel with them. Jesus has already won the day on our behalf, so let us act in a way that will make him proud of our response to all that he’s done. Amen.