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Matthew 25:1-13— ¹ “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹² But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

In all the weddings I’ve been involved with as a pastor, I’ve never had to deal with a “Bridezilla” – the bride who is more concerned about the wedding than the marriage. When I see commercials for the reality show “Bridezillas,” it looks like a preview for an episode of Jerry Springer. Brides yelling and crying and moaning and complaining at friends and family. Let this serve as a warning: If you act that like that on your wedding day and I’m doing the ceremony, I’m walking out.

Only once have I had a bride be very specific about anything. The couple was getting married under the bell tower at Concordia College in Moorhead. It was a nice setting. Anyway, the bride wanted to be walking down the aisle as the bell tower struck 3:00 PM. I figured that wouldn’t be a problem. The bride was so insistent on that the bells announce her arrival that I figured she’d makes sure it happened. During rehearsal, the wedding coordinators helped me plan out where the wedding party needed to be and when so the bride’s entrance would be perfect.

The afternoon of the wedding came.  Bride, groom, and wedding party were all dressed. Pictures were finished. We had everyone in the appointed place at 2:30 PM. The groomsmen and I went to our designated place, and I assumed the bride and bridesmaids were going to their appointed place. But about ten minutes before we were supposed to start, one of the wedding coordinators came and asked me where the bride and bridesmaids were. I had no idea. Like a game of hide and seek, both wedding coordinators were frantically searching to find the bride and her bridesmaids. I’m sure the groom had thoughts of being left at the altar. I was wondering if the wedding was going to happen, if all my time and preparation would have been for nothing, and if I would still get reimbursed for driving down to Moorhead.

Anyway, three o’clock came, the bell tower chimed clear and bright, and still no bride. Finally at 3:07 PM, the tardy bride magically appeared with her bridesmaids. She asked, “Can we still get everyone down the aisle so I can come down while the bells are chiming?” I thought, “Are you kidding me?” As calmly as I could, I said, “No, the bell rang several minutes ago. You missed it.” I didn’t say it to be mean. It was just the truth. The rest of the ceremony went fine. The couple still got married,  but the bride’s picture of a “perfect” entrance was gone.

The Groom in this parable isn’t as forgiving. Now, this parable can be difficult if you get lost in all the details. But we don’t need to worry about the details. The main idea is clear: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Believer, be ready for the return of Christ, your Groom.

Imagine these ten giggly girls excitedly waiting at the groom’s house imagining all the fun and excitement of the party. They have all been invited, and none of them have imagined the possibility of being left out because they are already “in.” But five were foolish – the Greek word is μωρός, where we get our word moron. And five were wise.

Even though they have been invited to a daytime wedding, the five morons take their lamps. They don’t want to have to carry around a bunch of extra stuff to carry around. But the five wise girls burden themselves with the extra weight and bother of a flask of oil.

The afternoon passes, evening has come to a close, and a wedding reception turns into a slumber party. All ten became drowsy. All ten of them finally nod off and succumb to sleep.

“But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’” The girls trim their lamps, but the morons realize to their horror they don’t’ have enough oil. The morons beg and plead with the wise girls whose silly, unnecessary act of bringing an extra flask of oil doesn’t seem so silly anymore. “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise girls say, “No way. There isn’t enough for us and for you. Go buy your own oil.” Hardly an act of Christian charity.

The oil dealers have all closed up shop by now, but the morons wouldn’t have a problem finding oil. Everyone knows everyone in these villages, and someone will give the oil. Their problem is time has already run out. As they were off trying to get their oil, the bridegroom comes, the party starts, and the door is shut.

The morons get themselves back to the house and are outside frantically knocking. “Lord, lord, open to us.” But the dreadful answer comes faintly but clearly through the closed door. “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Notice he does not say, “I never called you.” He does not say, “I never invited you.” He does not say, “I never loved you.” He simply states honestly, “I never knew you because you never bothered to know Me.”

Again, we could get all bogged down in the details of the parable. But in the end what does it mean to be ready? What gets you into the party, and what keeps you outside?

Faith. Faith in Jesus crucified and risen for the forgiveness of your sins is all you need to make you acceptable to God. Faith is God’s gift, and God gives the gift of faith in specific ways. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Ro. 10:17). God speaks His Word to you in the Scriptures, as you read them and hear, mark, and learn them. God gives faith in His Word connected to His Sacraments. In Baptism, God puts His faith-giving words directly on you in water. In Communion, God puts His faith sustaining words directly in you in bread and wine. Through His Word, Jesus always fills up your lamps and gives you enough oil of faith to fill up all the flasks you can find.

The only way you run out of the oil of faith is when you cut yourself off from it. By not filling up with the Word of God, you will run out.

Now is the time to fill your flasks! You do not know how much oil you will need. Why, why would you ever think you have enough? Why would you become complacent and think you don’t need more of God’s Word? Why would you stop coming to the merchant to get more oil? The oil isn’t expensive – in fact it’s on sale for free! But that sale isn’t eternal – there is a deadline, and you do not know when that deadline will come. There is no time to procrastinate. Come and receive the gift of faith. You do not know when it might be that you are not so freely able to read and study the Word of God. Hoard it.

Jesus is coming. The Bridegroom said He would return to take you to where He is. But you do not know when. It has been two thousand years of anticipation waiting for the Groom to return. It is easy to fall asleep. It is easy to get distracted with many other things and think the time to get oil will last forever. But it won’t.

Today feels like a lot like yesterday, and yesterday felt like the day before. Because Jesus didn’t come yesterday or the day before, you feel like Christ is not coming today (Wolfmueller). You fools, repent!

If you aren’t ready for Christ’s return, it will be as if you are being chased by a lion only to meet a bear. Then you run into your house to get safe from the bear and lean against a wall to be bitten by a snake. There is no escape, no safety. Christ is coming and you need to be ready. If you aren’t you will be eternally outside in the outer, eternal darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Outside is horrible and horrifying darkness. Come into the light!

But once you are scared silly about being left outside, remember what you are waiting for. You are waiting for a party. You are waiting for a time of unimaginable celebration and unspeakable joy. Absolutely, you need to be ready, but only because it would be a travesty to miss all the fun. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.