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Be Prepared
Are you ready?
What things would need if you had to leave in a moment and re-start elsewhere?
Think of all those who must skip out the door with what their arms can hold because their home is in the path of the raging fire just a block away or a tsunami wave is at the door. What would you grab?
My hope would be my cell phone and my laptop, shoes on my feet and a big coat on my shoulders, a scarf and my purse which hopefully has some dollars, credit and ID cards in it. And, oh, my daily meds. What would you have prepared so that in the moment, you would not forget something vital - like we see happen in today’s gospel reading in Matthew. We must be prepared for the end. Also when one is over the hill, after 80, forgetfulness is as much with us as our soul. We old folks forget. Most names don’t pop up when I need them. I can never find my Visa or where I hid some cash, or where I last saw a book I need to help me with my ancestor search. It’s somewhere in the condo, but where?
I don’t forget food, so far. I don’t forget how to write, so far. I don’t forget to pray whenever I wake up in the night, and I can go through my long list of loving friends for whom I need to pray without leaving someone out. And I know what day it is, most of the time, but I often wonder how I would survive without my cell phone for time, Google for spelling and information, Ancestry tips, Warren and Jamie for my ancient relatives. And always close at hand is my Revised Common Lectionary and my Bible and Book of Common Prayer (in one piece.) I never forget to put God first and thank Jesus at the end.
 Jesus gives a learning story about ten anxious and possible bridesmaids who gathered their lamps and dashed to meet a bridegroom potential. I guess the groom was going to make some sort of choice. Half of the maidens in attendance never thought to take oil for their lamps, just in case. They are called foolish while the wise bridesmaids, hoping to be the chosen bride, I guess, stocked up on flasks of oil for their lamps. (Does this remind you of Cinderella?) Of course there is always a hitch somewhere, and the bridegroom was late. The women began to doze off. It was a late night as it was. Without a cup of strong espresso, I surely would have had drooping eyes, because I’m not good at “wait”, especially at night. I’m an early go to bed type. Maybe some of these dames were too, though desperate to be chosen as a bride.
About midnight, the bridegroom suddenly arrived and all ten were invited to meet him. They all arose, surely straightened their gowns and brushed their hair, and “trimmed” their lamps. Half had no oil and their lamps, which had been burning all this delay time, went out. The wise bridesmaids only had enough extra for their own lamps, as they had stocked up. They suggested the other five go to the dealer and buy more oil. That’s when the bridegroom arrived. and the wise girls went with him to the banquet, after which the door was shut. The unwise bridesmaids finally got there and begged to enter. But the bridegroom said “I do not know you.” Of course, we don’t know who got chosen in the end.
But Jesus pointed out: “Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Jesus was more than likely using this example for the kingdom of heaven to encourage all to be ready, to not put off for tomorrow what could be done right now. Run through your prayers and pardon those who you need to pardon, love those you have failed to love, confess sins in some sort of prayer wherever you are at that moment and have confidence that God will forgive them just because you tried. Be ready to be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, as Paul tells the Thessalonians. Always be ready. Be clean, so to speak. Be without sorry, having forgiven all that have abused or used or choked your heart with sadness. Be ready so there is no panic.
We in these days of the coronavirus, remember almost eight months ago, when everyone crowded into groceries and Walmart and emptied shelves of toilet paper, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizers, toothpaste, paper towels, freezers, beef, chicken, and became hoarders. Shelves were vacant since stores had not been ready, never thinking such hoarding would happen. There is always enough when done correctly, but this was a bomb that no one knew how to avoid. A panic. A disaster that threw people out of work as shops, restaurants, all sorts of things shut down in order not to get or pass on the disease. No one was ready. No bridesmaid was ready with the required oils. And no one was out there waiting for us but us.
Do you remember the old song, Be Prepared? It’s that Boy Scout marching song. We must always be prepared. Like the Boy Scouts. Like someone who takes Jesus’ warnings. He gives us so many. God bless.
~ Rev
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audrey@audreytaylorgonzalez.com
www.audreytaylorgonzalez.com
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