Proper 27 (2023)

The goal of the sermon is: That the hearers will wisely prepare for Christ's coming, by nourishing the faith which is received from God.

The problem is: That we foolishly tend to let the things of life keep us from being prepared.

The means to the goal is: That Christ the Bridegroom Himself enables us to make the proper preparation through the Word and Sacrament and will receive us into His eternal kingdom.

Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and from our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

In the great timeline of human history, there are only two ultimately significant points: the first time Christ came to our world to win salvation by his life, death, and resurrection; and the second time Christ will come to consummate his everlasting kingdom.

Living in the time in between those two points is a time of tension. We know that peace and perfection are ours already because of what Jesus did the first time he came. Yet, at the same time, we do not enjoy a peaceful and perfect existence now already; we will not know such a life until Christ comes again.

And so we wait and watch, living in the time in between. As the church year draws to a close, Scripture points us toward the end of time when Christ will come again. Until then Christ teaches us how to live in the time in between. Today Jesus focuses our attention on preparedness. In life we seem to be preparing for one thing or another. And then we have several “moments of truth” – tests in school, market fluctuations that affect one’s retirement, changes in midlife and old age. It is more important still to be prepared for the final event in human history.

BE PREPARED FOR THE LORD'S COMING

We are foolish if we do not prepare.

We are not prepared if we rely on Christian associations.

Mere membership in the church is not preparation.

Neither is having the designation “Christian” or “Lutheran”.

We are not prepared if we rely on someone else’s faith.

We cannot rely on the faith of our parents.

We cannot rely on the faith of a Christian ancestor.

To be inadequately prepared is foolish because when Christ comes it will be too late to make proper preparation.

Our fate will then be irrevocably fixed (Matthew 25:10 — “and the door was shut.”

We will be left in darkness behind the closed door.

But, this is not God’s desire for us. Living in this in between time, between Jesus’ first and second coming is the time of grace, where God gives us gifts to prepare us for Christ’s return. Therefore,

We are wise if we prepare.

We must have an ample supply of oil.

This is a way of saying that only through Christ are we adequately prepared because by faith we receive the forgiveness of sins that Christ earned for us.

Wise preparation is possible because of God’s gift of faith to us.

We must trim our lamps.

This is a way of saying that our faith must be nurtured by regular use of Word and Sacrament.

As our faith is being nurtured, we can then go about our ordinary activities in the relaxed confidence (Matt. 25:5 “all became drowsy and slept”) that we are prepared to meet Christ whenever He comes.

To be prepared is wise because we have attended to what is most important of all — our relationship to God through Jesus Christ.

Christ will know us as His own.

We will enter the heavenly marriage feast with Him.

The Bridegroom – Christ Jesus – is coming. Are we prepared to meet Him? It is possible to make preparations and yet not be prepared!

The Bridegroom soon will call us, “Come to the wedding feast.”

May slumber not befall us nor watchfulness decrease,

But may our lamps be burning with oil enough and more,

That, with our Lord returning, we find an open door.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.