Sunday 08 November 2020
- Bible Book:
- Matthew
When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. (vs. 3-4)
Background
Today is Remembrance Sunday and we set time aside to remember those who have lost their lives in war. We might observe a silence, wear a poppy, and state that "we will remember them". But does our remembering stretch beyond this day, or even beyond two minutes of observance?
Remembrance can be tiring. The horrors of war make us want to look away and the emotional pain of loss is incredibly draining. It can be so tempting to join in a day of remembering and then turn our attention to easier topics. But if we truly want to remember those who have lost their lives in war, we need to commit to more than just a symbolic act of remembrance on one day.
As we learn in this parable, it is not enough simply to turn up. Jesus tells of ten women who have agreed to be bridesmaids, but only five have committed to this role. These five were prepared for the long run having brought extra oil for their lamps, but the other five had not. To fetch more oil they had to leave and so missed the wedding banquet. They missed the very purpose of their role because they hadn’t taken the time to do more than turn up on the day.
Why didn’t these women prepare for the role? Perhaps they only wanted to be bridesmaids for appearance's sake and not for the role itself. And sometimes our acts of remembrance are more for the benefit of others as we want to make sure we are seen to be remembering. But if our act of remembrance is purely for appearances we are like the bridesmaids who miss the whole point of their role.
Remembering is not just about honouring the sacrifice and devastation of the past. It is also a commitment to the future. If we remember the horror of war, the devastation of lives cut short, and the mental and physical toll on those who survive, then remembrance becomes more than a thought. It becomes an action as we learn from past loss to try to avoid the devastating effects of another war.
To Ponder:
- What does remembrance mean to you?
- How can you make a lasting commitment to remember?