Earthly Road, Heavenly Walk

Readings:

Psalm 141 Isaiah 66:1-6 2 Timothy 4:1-8 Luke 12:32-48

Sermon:

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Matthew 25:1-13

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Waiting…

Longing and waiting…

In the earliest days of the church the difficulty wasn’t the martyrdom, it wasn’t the suffering that could be inflicted by men or by the forces of this world. For these things too should pass. Though, as the stones hit against St. Stephen, there was little doubt that pain gripped his body; though, as the wooden nails ran through the hands and the feet of St. Peter and St. Phillip, there was little doubt that pain shot through every inch of their flesh; though, as the bare steel of the sword ran through St. Paul’s body, he could feel the life drain from his body; it wasn’t death that they feared. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21).

On that day of their death, though the work they could have done amidst the world for the glory and the sanctification of the Lord in praise for His great mercy and love, as they spread the gospel message of Christ Jesus, was done, they would be once more in the presence of the Lord, amidst the Saints and the Apostles, the Prophets and the Disciples that went before them. On that day they would join the Savior standing before the throne of God in Paradise.

No, the true difficulty laid in the waiting and the longing for that day of Christ’s glorious return.

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