I have been thinking about putting together some information to help myself and others prepare for church on Sunday morning. In the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church (LCMS) we follow the 3 year lectionary of bible readings. That means that consistent bible passages from the old and new testament are assigned for each Sunday of the church year. The use of a lectionary was consistent throughout the historic church. The 3 year lectionary is not specific to the LCMS and is followed by many historic denominations. This Sunday we will be following the readings for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. I realize that the season of Pentecost may be foreign to many of you, but that will need to be the content of a separate blog post. Included below are a few resources included to help me and hopefully you prepare for the word of God presented during church this Sunday morning.
The first resource comes from Issues Etc. Issues, Etc. is a ten-hour weekly syndicated radio talk show and podcast. The program features expert guests, expansive topics, while extolling Christ (their own tag line, but very fitting). The program is hosted by Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Jeff Schwarz. There is a running series on the show called Looking Forward to Sunday Morning (3 Year Lectionary) in which guest Dr. Carl Fickenscher presents the readings and themes associated with the specific Sundays of the church year. Below is the link for this coming Sunday.
Looking Forward to Sunday Morning (3 Year Lectionary): Pentecost 23
Next are the assigned bible readings (The links below will bring you to the English standard version of each of each of these readings):
Amos 5:18-24
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25: 1-13
Finally a resource reflecting on the Gospel reading for this Sunday written by my pastor. Pastor Eric Bednash of Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
Matthew 25:1-13
The parable of the ten virgins sheds light on the preparedness of those whose role to be prepared is not equally shared. As it is with any parable there are characters that represent someone or something in reality. The same can be said with the parable of the Ten Virgins Jesus speaks to His disciples in Matthew chapter 25.
To begin in summary, the Ten Virgins itself is about the arrival of the bridegroom and about how – when he arrived – some were ready for him and some were not. The Christian should take this parable to heart, because so often it can be easy to get comfortable in our own routines. The Christian might even become “nose-blind” to the Scripture’s call of endurance in our temporal earthly life. Saved by Christ’s work on the cross, we are to stay diligent in the watchfulness of His second coming as well.
While every parable is spoken and recorded in a specific context and the initial force or purpose of the parable might have been focused directly for those to whom it was spoken; there are parallels and meanings which carry importance for us who live in the modern time. This parable can be related to the context in which we currently live.
Therefore, let us, as the Church, recognize the characters presented in this parable. The ten virgins represent the community of believers, the Church, who claim Christ as Lord and Savior. The bridegroom is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [“The five foolish virgins address the bridegroom as a person of stature and prominence. They address him with respect: ‘Lord, Lord! Open for us!’ (25:11). It is likely, then, that in the narration of the parable, the bridegroom is a figure of high status. Is he, in fact, the son of a king, as was the bridegroom in 22:1-14?” CC Matthew 21:1-28:20 – Jeffrey A. Gibbs ]
The oil can represent whatever it is that is necessary for you personally to be ready for the bridegroom when he comes. The general necessities (“the oil”) could be but not limited to; continual and habitual confession and absolution, attendance in the Divine Service and receiving of the Lord’s Supper, study of God’s Word, as well as, willingness to suffer for the name of Christ (persecution, if called), confession of faith publicly, etc. Of course, the basic necessity of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who takes away the sin of the world is present, but that belief or faith might manifest itself specifically in particular situations different for each person. Therefore, it is prudent of Christians to continue growing in faith and sanctification with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus teaches this parable so that we might know and understand even within the Church itself, at the time of His second coming, there will be those who are prepared and those who have fallen away in unpreparedness. (Matthew 7:21) Therefore, we are diligent in our own preparedness while constantly seeking His mercy through the forgiveness of sins, repenting of those things in which we have done and left undone.
Our life on earth, as Christians, is a cycle of confession and absolution; the ebb and flow of God’s Words into our ears, minds, and hearts as we repeat them back to Him in song, praise, and give thanks. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13. As we continue to live during the end times, patiently waiting for Christ’s glorious return and the resurrection of the dead, let us keep our focus ever on Jesus Christ, the Word of God. Because “that glorious return will happen suddenly. You cannot GET ready; you just need to BE ready.” CC Matthew 21:1-28:20 – Jeffrey A. Gibbs
I hope you find these resources helpful.