Wednesday Evening Meditation

Meditation on the Apocalyptic Propers for next Sunday, the Third Sunday before Advent.

The Collect

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Epistle 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Gospel Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus said, “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

++++++++++++++++

One evening 25 or so years ago I attended a church service (not Episcopal), closing out the kindergarten year for my grandchildren. Leading the congregation in the words printed in the bulletin, the pastor began the service with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, followed by their Pledge of Allegiance to the Bible: “I pledge allegiance to the Holy Bible, the inerrant word of God”.

Participating in their printed program, I read that pledge to the Bible aloud without thinking, before noticing what I was saying. Still recalling it today helps me Remember to Stop, Look and Think before I Speak, because I will not willingly be led blindly down a path.

For this coming Sunday, we have apocalyptic Collect and Bible readings because we start the countdown to Advent, when the church focuses not on Santa Claus as you thought, but on two faith events:

looking back to Nativity, the first Christmas with Bible stories of our salvation history; and,
especially (though we may not take it seriously), looking forward to the Second Coming of Christ at the Day of the Lord.

In your handout, the Thessalonians reading tells what St Paul promises about the Day of the Lord: “the Lord himself (he’s talking about Jesus), with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise … . Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air”.

What do you think about that?

Artists portray it as vivid and frightful!

Ask yourself: what do YOU think? Whether you realize it or not, you MUST think something, because in our Eucharistic Prayer in a few minutes you will say aloud

“We remember his death.

We proclaim his resurrection.

We await his coming in glory.”

It is not just the priest who says that, we ALL say it, and the way our Anglican theology works (lex orandi lex credendi) is that if we SAY it, that means we BELIEVE it.

You say you “await his coming”? Is that just a liturgical formula, or do you really believe it? What does it mean to you? If you’re going to SAY it, and especially as we move toward Advent (which means He’s Coming), think about what it means to you when you say you “await his coming in glory”.

If the Gospel is true, you don’t want to be caught by surprise!

++++++++++++++++

As you remain seated, let us pray to the Lord.

For peace from above and for the loving-kindness of God.
For peace in the world, for the welfare of the Church, and for an America united without division and hatred.
For the President, for the leaders of all nations, and for all in authority.
For this community, and for those who live here.
For the good earth God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it.
For those we love who are absent from us.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and
for the sick and suffering (especially those we love).
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them.
For those who have died.
For deliverance from fear, danger, violence, oppression, and degradation.
For the + absolution and remission of our sins and offenses.
For a blessing on our gathering tonight, and on our supper, and gratitude to those who prepared it.
In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.