“LAST SUNDAY 2023”
Saint Matthew 25: 1-13
Last Sunday: 26 November Anno Domini 2023
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
There is no possible, contingent, or permissive variant in Matthew’s text. This is a hard and fast, physically, and metaphysically TRUE simile that The Christ speaks into your ears! “Then SHALL (shall) the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins.”
Theologians, Church Fathers, and this past week—LCMS pastors on social media talking about this text, have tried to come up with one-to-one explanations as to that the ‘lamp’ and what the ‘oil’ and what ‘trimming their lamps,’ and what ‘go to them that sell and buy for yourselves’ all mean. What it means to you now in your life and your life near the end; the end of your life and the end of time.
And while the phrase “the kingdom of heaven” can have multiple and mutually true and supporting meanings; what does it mean? Is it God’s created and sustained world of all men from Adam until the final trump? “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son…?” Perhaps.
But there are ten women here. Ten is the God’s number for His people in their reception of His Holy, immutable, and perfect LAW—The Ten Word; The Ten Commandments; Torah.
But they are called virgins. Being virginal is to be pure, spotless, chaste, white as snow and clean as pure crystal water.
These two descriptors are more than signifiers they are ontological realties, i.e., The Ten Virgins are the Church—the present, physical, visible Church of Christ Jesus.
Yes, they are corporately, collectively, His Holy Bride, they are also the attendants to His Bride. They are Church, but they are also church at the side of The Blessed Virgin Mary—THE TYPE of The Church. Part and parcel. Mary simply is the greatest and as TLH # 475 ‘Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones’ states “leads their (your/our) praises.” For does not God The Holy Spirit write by King David: “The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palaces” [Ps. 45. 13-15]. The Apostle also speaks to this one-flesh-ness of Groom to Bride in Ephesians: “even as Christ also loved The Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing + of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, (as a virgin) or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” [Eph. 5. 25-27].
So, all who are Baptized, catechized, admitted to The Blessed Sacrament, and continue in the faith during this earthly pilgrimage are indeed the “Kingdom of heaven.” And all will die who are going to die before The Final Advent at the end. The elect of God will die and those who seem to be in the church but who have apostatized in their hearts and minds will die as well: “all slumbered and slept.”
So, at last The Christ, The Groom, returns. Five are admitted into His marriage, His chamber, His eternal sanctuary. They transfer from the nave to the chancel—the altar-table of feasting and joy and peace forevermore. Five are not admitted. They encounter a barred door (now that is truly closed-communion) and the words of damnation: “verily I say unto you, I know you not.”
So, pull back now just a bit from the mechanics and technics of 1st century oil lamps and illumination. Remember your Catechism; remember St. Paul. The five virgins who are “saved” are wise because The Lord chose them, predestined them, and made them wise. “The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom “[Ps. 111.10] writes the Psalmist. The Greatest commandment is correctly explicated by The Reformer: “we should fear, love, and trust” in God above all things. Yes. And while all 10 died—for all have sinned and the wages of sin is death. The five wise virgins are saved by Jesus’ Grace through the faith He bestowed upon them. The Holy Spirit was in their vessels, their bodies—and thus their souls, spirits, hearts, and minds. They did nothing. They received. They were not saved BY their faith, rather they were given as free gift “GOSPEL” faith by Their Groom.
This is not a gift that can be shared or granted by one saved Virgin to another person. This is why as important as “missions” is to The Church, our Lord’s mandate to the “12” and their successors to go and preach in all the world the good news of “Christ crucified” for the forgiveness of sins/repent & believe, Saint Peter and St. John never MADE one unbeliever into a believer. Yes, faith comes by hearing, and yes, Christians are to tell others of The Christ, but faith is pure gift—the work of The Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life (review Article 5 of The Augsburg Confession). And also, let God be God. This is a mystery. Why some and not others? What you are really complaining about is why not everyone. And even there you are mostly concerned about yourself, and your loved ones.
So, yes, “fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
Be in The Word! Be in Church constantly! Be receiving The Holy Supper every opportunity! God uses these “means” to keep your faith strong and active.
But do not fear. You are with the “12” and the rest of the Virgins. Do not look towards the “others,” even as the five wise do not mourn and anguish over the five foolish. Look to The Cross and to your Savior the Good Groom. He does all things well.
Paul can conclude for us/you: “this is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” [Eph. 5. 32].
The wedding feast is ready. Come to The Mystery.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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