Choosing God Every Day/Shine God’s Light
“Choosing God Every Day/ Shine God’s Light
Refection for Sunday November 12, 2023
Churchill and Gilford United Churches
Krista Moore
Based on
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 Joshua challenges the Israelites to serve only the one God. Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus teaches the parable of the 10 bridesmaids.
Introduction to the Scriptures
Moses died last week. And now Joshua is leading the Israelites. But he too has grown old and is about to die.
He led the Israelites to the Promised Land after 40 years of their roaming in the desert with Moses.
Now he must prepare them to follow God without him. But will they?
Jesus is also preparing his disciples for after his death. He promises to return.
But he wants them to follow the Way even when he’s gone.
Light your lamps! He says. Stay connected to my Light. Don’t forget me.
Be prepared, like bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom. Some will continue to follow the Way, and others will fall away.
Will we stay faithful to God, will we be patient and follow the Way even when the Master is not home?
SERMON
It’s hard waiting.
Does anyone here like waiting?
STORY – DISNEYWORLD
When I was a kid, if an adult told me something good was about to happen, like we’re going to Disneyworld, I would expect it to happen immediately.
Children have no concept of time – only NOW exists.
Same with dogs. If you tell them we’re going for a walk SOON – they don’t hear SOON – they hear NOW.
Anyone relate to that?
SCRIPTURE
That’s what it was like when Jesus told his disciples that he’s about to die, but don’t worry because ONE DAY I will return and make
everything right. Justice will finally come for Israel! He will judge the living and the dead.
They ask him, when?
Jesus says only God the Father knows.
In the meantime, Jesus is preparing them for the dark night ahead. There are many preparations. He gives them instructions how to live. Keep your lamps lit, he says. Don’t be foolish. Prepare yourselves. Follow my commands. Don’t forget what you have learned. You have my light. Be the light.
Jesus knows he is going to be away a long time.
He’s preparing them for a delay.
The bridegroom will not come right away. Many things will happen before the end. Wars, conflict, earthly struggles. But he promises the Son of Man will return, what is called the ESCHATON, in theology, or the End Days, when Jesus returns for the Final judgement, and all who are faithful will enter heaven. It will take a long, long time….
The Israelites were the same way. They had waited 40 years to enter the Promised land.
The truth is no one that entered the Promised Land were the same people that started the journey. All the original people had died waiting. It was the next generation or two that saw it.
Not even Moses got to enter it.
Moses got tired of leading them. He kept saying SOON we will enter it. But SOON never seemed to come. 40 years is a long time… Many got tired of waiting and started worshipping other gods. They were not faithful to YHWH.
And because they were not faithful, they walked in circles in the desert for a long, long time…
STORY – ADULTS & TEENS
It’s hard waiting.
Sometimes when we are left to our own devices we get into trouble, don’t’ we?
Like when the adults give their teens instructions before going away for a night, and sternly warn them not to get into trouble. But as soon as the cat is away the mice do play…
So how do we stay out of trouble and be faithful to God? How can we follow Christ all the time, even when he seems to be away?
SCRIPTURE
In the parable of the 10 bridesmaids Jesus teaches that the wise ones need to bring extra oil so their lamps will burn brightly all night long. Then when the bridegroom comes, Jesus, they will be able to lead the way to Him. They will SHINE THE LIGHT FOR OTHERS.
Notice, they all fall asleep. Just like the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane the night Jesus gets arrested.
They all fell asleep. Many were scattered.
Jesus wants us to Stay awake.
Keep your lamps lit.
But the foolish bridesmaids forget to bring extra oil. They think they can rely on others to do the work for them. But Jesus needs us all to
pay attention. To stay connected to him. Jesus is the oil. His Light is in us. He gives us his light to do the will of God.
In other words, keep the LIGHT inside of yourself. We are the lanterns. We need to be always LIT, to make the way for Christ. In other words, don’t WAIT.
Be alive in Christ now.
Be God’s love in the world.
REMEMBRANCE DAY – REMEMBER ME
This past week we practiced Remembrance Day to honour those who had fallen in war.
Today Jesus is asking us to Remember Him in the same way. When he seems to be away.
He says, Remember me. I AM the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Keep your lamps lit. Be my light in the world.
Do not fall asleep – Live as if I am HERE (because I AM). Share the LIGHT with everyone.
STORY – DIWALI – FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Last night I had the privilege of attending the first Diwali festival at Churchill Community Centre – hosted by the Indian people of Innisfil. Diwali is a Sanskrit word that means Festival of Lights. It is a time of celebration where
– good overcomes evil,
– knowledge replaces ignorance,
– light conquers darkness.
I couldn’t help but think of the 10 bridesmaids, who must prepare the way for the bridegroom and lead the guests to the wedding banquet. In the same way, the Hindu hosts light diyas which are clay lanterns to keep the light burning bright, (as the light wanes in late October and November. )
The hosts and guests wear bright clothes, and light up the banquet hall with many lights.
At the heart of the festival, we are to extend kindness and compassion to others, loved ones, friends and family, but also strangers. And to be generous with our love and charity.
As I walked up in the dark from the manse to the community centre, there were bright lights welcoming me. Beautiful colours and pageantry. Everyone had such a good time. And we broke bread together (or Naan) and tasted the most excellent curries.
I saw children in brightly coloured costumes, heard Hindi songs and clapped during Punjabi dances. It was all very foreign and yet something was quite like the banquet of Christ.
The LIGHT.
And the banquet was like the kingdom of heaven.
A wedding is a time of celebration. The kingdom of heaven is like a great banquet, and we are honoured guests.
The problem is, not everyone will come.
It’s a CHOICE.
SCRIPTURE: PARABLE OF THE MAN HOLDING A BANQUET In another parable Jesus tells of a man who was holding a banquet, and he invited all these guests, but they all made excuses one by one why they could not come. The man was so frustrated.
So he ordered his servants to go out into the streets and alleys and invite anyone who wanted to come. And the banquet was filled with a variety of people, strangers. And they all got to eat at the feast. DIWALI
Last night was a feast.
I wasn’t supposed to be there. I was supposed to be finishing my sermon! But I needed to be there because a friendship was extended to me. A kindness. So I said yes, I will come.
Jesus’s kingdom is like that.
It’s unexpected.
But Jesus is saying, don’t just WAIT. KEEP YOUR LAMPS LIT. KEEP FOLLOWING THE WAY OF GOD. SAY YES TO GOD. BE THE LIGHT SO OTHERS WILL FIND THE BANQUET.
SO, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO US?
So what does it mean, to keep your lamps lit?
KEEP THE LIGHT OF GOD IN YOU.
Without it, the world can be a very dark place indeed.
Like being in a dark room without a flashlight, we can stumble and fall. And not have any idea where we are going.
Like the Israelites wandering in the desert for a long, long time. If we stay close to God, God gives us light to see by.
Christ gives us this light inside ourselves so that we can hear God’s guidance and see clearly where we were going.
So we keep the path lit, so that we will not stumble or lose our way in the world.
When it’s dark it’s difficult. It’s a lot of work. It’s dangerous. When we light, it’s like turning the lights on in that same room and seeing where everything is and being shown the way.
God is that way.
CLOSING – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
As I walked back from the Diwali celebration, I was weighed down by gifts. Flowers, sweets. It was still dark out, but I felt light inside, as I thought of all the kindness extended to me. The hall had been bright like a beacon, and as I arrived at the manse and sat down to finish this sermon, I heard fireworks in the distance. Diwali is the festival of lights. When light overcomes the darkness.
Soon we will celebrate Advent, the coming of Christ.
The Light of the World.
In the meantime, keep it inside of you.
And you will not be lost.
Shine God’s light in the world!
Amen.
Song: Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)