Start:Stop-Just In Time Christianity

The Wise and Foolish Virgins, Edward Burne-Jones (1859)

Thank you for joining us for Start:Stop. This reflection will last around ten minutes and you are welcome to come and go as your schedule dictates. We begin with a short bible reading which can be found on page 29 of the New Testament section of the bibles.

Bible Reading - Matthew 25.1-13

‘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.

Reflection

Like Voyager 2, which left the solar system this week on its journey into interstellar space, it often seems as though nothing is standing still - particularly at this time of year. The debate about the possible consequences of Brexit have reminded us that our economy is increasingly reliant on goods and services being in perpetual motion. Since it was introduced to the UK car industry by Japanese manufacturers in the 1980’s, just-in-time production has spread to other sectors such as retail, where supermarkets use just-in-time suppliers to minimise stock retention and therefore reduce the need for storage space.

Increasingly here in the City, we are treating people in the same way; rising overheads, greater competition and decreasing profit margins alongside the growth in digital technology has led to businesses drawing on a flexible, freelance workforce - Zero Hours contracts accounted for one quarter of job growth over the past five years.

The binary characterisation that is a feature of Matthew’s Gospel (the only gospel where this parable can be found) seems to encourage us to take sides – identifying with either the wise or the foolish characters. In an age when we have become commodities in a stock-less economy and most of us seem to live last-minute lives, the foolish Bridesmaids in our bible reading perhaps seem more than a bit familiar. It is all too easy to sneer at those goody-two-shoes types, like the wise Bridesmaids, who have come prepared with extra oil for their lamps. At the last minute, as the bridegroom approaches, they refuse to hand over any oil to the others, sending them away to buy some of their own. This apparently selfish and uncharitable behaviour, appears to be rewarded by the bridegroom; the wise bridesmaids joining him at the wedding banquet while the others are left out in the cold – even though they had brought their lamps and they all fell asleep while waiting expectantly for his coming. The foolish bridesmaids just didn’t have enough oil.   

Matthew’s Gospel and its heightened interest in The Last Judgement is said to have inspired more works of art than the Book of Revelation. A beautiful pen and ink drawing of this parable forms part of an exhibition of the work of Sir Edward Burne-Jones, which is on show at Tate Britain. The drawing brings the contrast in the story to the fore. Most of the canvas is devoted to portraying the five ill-prepared bridesmaids, who are seen clinging to a rather precarious draw-bridge over a raging stream, leading to a timber hut bedecked in flowers and foliage. Standing at the doorway, gazing out, is Jesus - dressed as the bridegroom. None of the foolish virgins can bear to face Him, such is their shame.  Weeping and wailing, bent double and falling on their knees, the figures are so arranged to lead the eye to a peacock - a symbol that their sorrowful state will be eternal.

The peacock is gazing upwards to the hut window. Inside, the five wise bridesmaids can be seen embracing each other, writhing about as gracefully as you would expect from a pre-raphaelite muse. One of the bridesmaids takes time away from the eternal party to look out towards us - the only character in the scene to do so – and reminding us which side of the door we are called to be on.

It is inconceivable to us that the kingdom of heaven would be a place where those who exhibit uncharitable and selfish behaviour are rewarded at the expense of those who are turned away by the Lord. So what might Jesus be saying by telling this parable? Why didn’t the wise bridesmaids share what they had?

Looking at the context of the story may provide a clue. This parable, along with several before and after it, is told to the disciples by Jesus as they sit on the Mount of Olives, shortly before the Passion. Jesus uses this time to explain to his followers what will happen before the Last Judgement; the ultimate triumph of the kingdom of God at the end of the age. In each of these parables, the cost of discipleship is laid bare. Perhaps the Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids are disciples – or followers of Jesus; after all, each carries a lamp - a symbol of the virtue of faith. But half lack sufficient oil to complete the journey to meet the bridegroom – and are unable to take their place in the kingdom. According to many of the early church Fathers, the oil in the parable represents the virtue of charity; a manifestation of our living faith. While all the bridesmaids were faithful (and virtuous in other ways - many translations describe them as wise and foolish virgins) the five foolish bridesmaids did not fully live a life of faith through acts of charity. They didn’t give it their all.

In this reading of the parable, the oil is not a commodity that can be shared – while you can be charitable towards me you cannot give your charitable nature to me. Rather than being selfish, the wise bridesmaids were entirely selfless – what they could not share was their selflessness. As St Jerome explains : “these wise virgins do not answer thus out of covetousness, but out of fear. Wherefore, each man shall receive the recompense of his own works, and the virtues of one cannot atone for the vices of another in the day of judgment.”

Can we be just-in-time Christians? Well perhaps in one sense – we know that Jesus will accept us whenever we open our hearts to Him - and that might be just-in-time. But as soon as we sign up to a life in Christ we are called to act on our promises and live our lives according to Him every moment of every day – and in full. Once the light is switched on we cannot turn it off! We cannot stop being followers of Christ for part of our lives. As the foolish bridesmaids discovered, living a life in Christ is not something you can leave until the last minute.

In this holy season of Advent as we prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ, and await the time when God gathers up all things in him, perhaps we might reflect on areas of our lives in which we need to let the light of Christ shine more brightly?

Meditation

Prayers

Please join me in prayer using the response in bold type.

May the Lord, when he comes

find us watching and waiting.

May the Lord, when he comes

find us watching and waiting.

Lord, while we await your coming, help us, your faithful people, to live our lives according to your will.

Help us to be generous with our resources, supporting those in need. We pray especially in this bitter weather, for the homeless and all those who support them. Let us always be generous with our time and with our love.

May the Lord, when he comes

find us watching and waiting.

Lord, help us to bring about peace and harmony in the world; in our homes and in our workplaces. We pray especially for those living in the midst of conflict and all those who are seeking to bring about peace.

May the Lord, when he comes

find us watching and waiting.

We pray for all who are anxious and depressed at this time. Those who feel empty. Isolated and alone. Lord, help us to remember that you are with us. We pray that all your people may come to know you, resting in your loving presence this day and always.

May the Lord, when he comes

find us watching and waiting.

Blessing

May God the Father, judge all-merciful,

make us worthy of a place in his kingdom.

May God the Son, coming among us in power,

reveal in our midst the promise of his glory.

May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith,

joyful in hope and constant in love.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us now and always.

Amen