Liturgical Table Talk: 32rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Weekly Reflections

The Hors d'oeuvre

Name a time when it was difficult for you to be a Christian.

Dig in!

The liturgical calendar year is drawing to a close. On the first week of the season of Advent we will begin the second of three liturgical years, Year B. For now, in liturgical Year A, we are concluding the Gospel of Matthew. Throughout the year, we have talked about Matthew’s Gospel as the fulfillment of the Five Books of Moses. This is seen in the way that Matthew presents Jesus’s teaching in five long discourses. This final discourse is about the end times. This topic is fitting since we are concluding a liturgical year.

Setting the context for this reading, Jesus said that he was coming again. However, we do not know when he is coming back. Evidence seems to suggest that the early Christians thought Jesus was coming back in a matter of weeks. Instead the Christians were waiting for his return. In the days of the Early Church it was not easy to be a Christian. The Jewish religious leaders were against this new way of living the Jewish faith with Jesus seen as the Messiah. The Roman occupiers thought the Christians were a threat to their peaceful rule over the Jewish people. It was hard to be a Christian in this context. Because of that, some were going weary and were losing heart. Matthew is reminding the Church that Jesus said they should be ready for his return at any time. To teach this lesson, he tells the parable of the ten virgins.

The scene has ten virgins who are serving a function at a wedding similar to that of modern day bridesmaids. The groom, however, was delayed. Most likely the groom was negotiating with the father of the bride for the dowry, a sum of money brought to the groom from the bride’s family. Apparently, the negotiations were taking longer than it should, and it began to grow dark. Since it was growing dark, each of the ten bridesmaids had a lampades (LAMP-uh-dees). This was a small lamp that required oil. Yet five of these bridesmaids were “foolish.” The Greek word is “morai” (MOH-rye) which is were we get the English “moron.” This is pretty harsh language for the five bridesmaids. The other five bridesmaids were “phronimoi” (FRONE-uh-moy). Roughly translated, they assessed situations correctly and they acted correctly. They were wise and they brought enough oil for their lamps in case the bridegroom was delayed longer.

When the bridegroom finally came, the “phronimoi” were ready. The “morai” were not. The morons went out to get oil and when they came back they were not allowed into the wedding. They were told, “I do not know you.” Matthew will use this phrase again when Peter denies Jesus in Matthew 26:74.

Please read Matthew 25:1-13 together.

 

Table Talk

  • It was difficult to live as a Christian in the Early Church. What are some difficulties that Christians face in today’s world?
  • Many Christians felt weary trying to live as a Christian in their day and they grew weary and tired. Do you ever get tired of the effort that it takes to live as a Christian today? Why? What do you find tiring?
  • What do you think you can do to be better prepared to live as a Christian today?
  • Can you think of ways that today’s gospel is challenging you live differently in a specific way?

And for Dessert

Lord Jesus, let us not grow weary in living as a Christian. When we are tired and have lost energy to fight temptation, send the strength of your Holy Spirit to us to encourage us and to renew our strength. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on you and your second coming as we pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven …

We ask this through Jesus who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Song Suggestions to prepare your heart for Sunday's Liturgy

Fall Afresh by Jeremy Riddle

Light the Fire by Adam Bitter

Kingdom Come by Hillsong United