Scriptures: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25; Psalm 78:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13
Reflection by Rev. Kathryn Snelling, Deacon
24 Pentecost November 8, 2026
Matthew 25: 1-13
The Rev. Kathryn Snelling
How many of us gathered here this morning were Scouts? Girl Scouts. Boy Scouts, Brownies…?
Do you know the Girl Scout Motto? BE PREPARED!
I believe the Boy Scouts have the same motto.
I and all my sisters were Girl Scouts. Our mom was a scout leader as well, so we all had the scouting experience and training. And that training sticks with you.
Now I don’t wear my Alb for a service of Morning Prayer, as it is a vestment for services that have Eucharist or Holy Communion.
But, over the twenty plus years of serving as a Deacon I have learned to endeavor to be prepared for all sorts of needs and situations.
So in the pockets of my alb I keep a hankie, hand sanitizer, a couple of throat lozenges, a safety pin, a bandaid, a small pocket knife, a tiny pair of scissors - sheathed (Very Handy) and last but not least: a miniature, long tip bic lighter.
When I take it home to wash I have to remember to empty the pockets and then remember to re-load.
On the parable we heard from Jesus in today’s Gospel lesson, it seems that five of the bridesmaids had been Girl Scouts and the other five not - or maybe they were but failed to earn their Fire Keeping Badge.
Now a bit of background will be helpful — remember the last few Sundays were about Jesus being repeatedly tested, then we took a side trip to remember our Saints, and then the Lectionary takes a giant leap over all of chapter 24 and lands us at the beginning of Chapter 25.
So what was in chapter 24, you may ask? Well, it begins with Jesus and the disciples leaving Jerusalem. And the disciples stop to admire the magnificence of the Temple and Jesus tells them there will come a time when not one stone will be left upon another. The disciples want to know when that will happen and Jesus, through a variety of stories and illustrations tells them of what is to come; persecution, calamities, false messiahs and prophets claiming to be him. And in this chapter we hear about the two in the field- one taken the other left- and more than once he says all of it will come at an unexpected hour - so be alert - be prepared.
So chapter 25 is a continuation of that theme beginning with this parable or a “the Kingdom of Heaven is like” story.
With five foolish bridesmaids and five wise bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom to arrive.
Which ends with “keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour”
The word translated in the New Revised Standard as “Keep Awake”, is more accurately translated as; be alert, or prepared, or to be on guard.
Now there are multiple points that one can ponder, as with all scripture passages,
but the point I am focusing on this morning is the obvious one: to keep alert and prepared.
I think a question for us today is;
What are you doing to keep alert, on your guard and to keep your lamp burning — we all carry THE LIGHT with us - the light of Christ in our lamps - to shine in our world, wherever and however wide that “world” is.
We don’t sing hymns in our Morning Prayer services, but “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE” would be an appropriate one.
How do we stay alert and ready? It has been over two thousands years that Christians have been waiting for The Messiah to return in all His Glory.
Even longer for our Jewish sisters and brothers.
I was reminded of the scene in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF when the Jews in the community are forced to leave their little village of Anatevka - and after the song is sung, a man asks their Rabbi “Rabbi, we have been waiting a long time for the Messiah. Wouldn’t now be a good time for him to come?”
To which the Rabbi replies, “Well, we will just have to wait for him someplace else.”
How…. How do we spend our time waiting? How do we stay alert and ready?
I suggest that we are reading our Bibles, gathering with others in Bible study groups, joining EFM, attending services, perhaps going online to take advantage of the many resources available there, and assuredly spending time with God in prayer and in just being and maybe following a Rule of Life.
And when all this becomes our regular practice, like Scout training, it sticks.
And prepares us for what is our most important activity while we wait.
And that is living our faith - living it out where it shows. Letting it guide our hearts and show in our words, in our actions and in our decisions.
I think we saw some of that play out last Tuesday— and with respect for all voters, that is as political as I will speak this morning.
So my prayer is that you- all of us - are actively seeking and keeping a steady supply of all that fuels your lamp.
Amen