For Sunday
Proper 27A
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.
Reading
Reflection
This is another of Jesus’s dark parables—those difficult teachings in Jerusalem. One that has a sinister bent to it. Frightened people waiting and some getting left behind. This has clearly informed some dark theology.
And that sensation many of us have in reading—that this doesn’t scan right, doesn’t sound like Jesus exactly—is a useful reminder to study the context. Because it isn’t really a condemnation of “foolishness”. Nor is forgetfulness the thing that keeps people out of heaven.
This parable comes after Jesus describes some intense apocalyptic events. Events we often associate with God intervening. But it’s quite the opposite. It’s human destruction. Violence and devastation by people against other people. Jesus describes God showing up afterward, collecting the people who were virtuous while the world was on fire.
“Then the Kingdom will be like this…”
We must also note how this depicts a vision for us to compare the Kin-dom to…
Is the Kin-dom a place where only the people out for themselves are rewarded? The people who planned ahead and refused to share? Those who didn’t gather the light together to ensure everyone survived the night, waiting? Does that, in fact, sound anything like the Kin-dom to us?
I do think prudence, watchfulness, patience, resilience, perseverance are all things that Jesus cares about and teaches. Because they do assure our personal safety. But Jesus spent his entire ministry teaching us to watch out for others. That is the picture of the Kin-dom to which we are to compare this.