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The center of the Traditional Anglican Communion; adhering to the Holy Bible (KJV) in all matters of Faith and Doctrine, a strict reliance on the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, The two Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, the Two Creeds, and the Homilies and formularies of the Reformation Church of England.

Verse of the Day

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Devotion for Thursday after the Second Sunday after Trinity - 21 June 2012 Anno Domini


        1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 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. 10 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. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matt 25:1-13)
The Collect
Second Sunday after Trinity
O
 LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
        This parable of the Ten Virgins is very closely related to the previous parable of the wise and foolish servants (Matt 24:45-51); however, the Ten Virgins more directly have application to the condition of the Church-in-Waiting. There are some salient points that should be taken into consideration as we begin our study of this wonderful parable: 1) all ten of the young ladies were virgins and doubtless of good moral character, 2) each were prepared in appearance with fine dresses for the occasion, 3) each spent weary hours watching and waiting for the Bridegroom, 4) all ten slept in waiting for the moment of need, and, 5) each had lamps with which to light the procession. Here their relative statuses diverge. There was but one thing missing in the five rejected virgins which the five accepted virgins had in abundance – OIL!
        It is dismaying to see young, attractive girls who are morally pure, but lacking in the wisdom and understanding that should have been inculcated into their characters in early life. How many beautiful young ladies, and handsome young men, walk about as empty shells of propriety due to the failure of the parents to properly teach and admonish? These five foolish young virgins may have been taught by their mothers, as are many today, to accentuate the appearance to the neglect of the more important considerations of the soul. But once the clay is set, the vessel can no longer be molded by the potter.
        We may dress and live as Christians, attend to our duties at church in waiting for the Lord, prepare everything needful for our `appearance,' be steadfast with our fellow Christians in meeting and remaining together, and have our lamps beside us at all times, but the very thing that is of greatest essence we may lack – the Holy Ghost as the host and resident of our hearts. The Holy Ghost is the Light of our Souls just as Love is the evidence of our sincerity:  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Cor 13:1-3)
         1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Christ has often spoken of what the kingdom of heaven is likened to during the course of our daily lives; but now He tells us what it shall be likened to "then.' The `then' to which he refers is most probably the end-time judgment which the last verse in the previous chapter describes. When the Bridegroom (Christ) comes for His Bride (Church) will those whose duty it is to Light the way of His procession to the Marriage Supper be found ready and waiting?
        2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. This reflects the condition of those inside the church. There are no clearly discernible distinctions between the wise and foolish virgins – they are all properly attired (morally good), waiting in the same room (gathered together in the church), patient (in waiting), alert (watching), and equipped with lamps (the Word of God).
        . 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: You may know the Bible so well that you can competently recite entire books, but without the Light of the Holy Ghost to open the love and mystery of it, your efforts are futile. On the other hand, you may be a poor farmer in China whose access to the Bible is limited; however, knowing the principles of the Gospel, you have responded with a true heart and teary eyes to the call of Christ. Which of these two do you believe stands in favor of God? The virgins were well accepted among their peers until the moment of truth arrives.  There are no apparent differences in outward appearance until now – this moment of judgment. These five virgins have lamps, and the lamps most likely had oil, but barely enough to get out of  the door. The lamps used in the procession were small with a spout on the front end and an opening in the center to refill with oil. It was customary to carry a jug of oil to refill the lamps when their small reservoir was empty. Though they may have had oil enough for the present, they had failed to consider the future. They believed that anything that would suffice for the present would suffice for the future. They presumed too much on their privilege. How many pious seeming souls sit in the pews at church as respectable Christians who are good in character but are as lost as a  penny that has not been seen or remembered  in fifty years?

        4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Remember the Words of Christ to the Woman at Jacob's Well over in Sychar? But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him (John 4:23) We may hold the truth in our hands but be totally devoid of that saving Spirit of God that conveys Life. Do we proudly flaunt our Godliness for the eyes of others, but lack any depth of Spirit at all in our hearts? Do we anxiously await the soon appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, or is this simply some old truth that has lost its savor for us? So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation  (Heb 9:28) Do we LOOK for HIM? Do we relish the regalia of the wedding dress but abhor the Bridegroom in whose honor we wear the same? Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  (2 Tim 4:8) The Wedding procession and feast should not be the end of our desire, but only the function of achieving that eternally lasting relationship with the Love of our Souls. Have we forgotten that, if we are sons and daughters of the King of Kings, that we shall also be Princes and Princesses of so great a royal family? Shall we appear as King David envisioned long before Christ gave Himself a ransom for us:  The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.  (Psalms 45:12-15)
       . 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Christ does not concern Himself with our demands for times and schedules. He knows His plan, He has shared His plan with us, and He will bide His time until all things are ready. If the feast is not provisioned with delicious delicacies, and the number of guests have not RSVP'd, He will wait until all things are ready – usually at the moment we least expect, as with these ten virgins. It is perfectly normal that we labor and sleep in the normal courses of life until we hear that trumpet from the portal of Heaven.
        6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. This `cry' was usually preceded by a clarion call from a trumpet from a corner near the Brides home, then would follow the announcement "Behold the Bridegroom cometh." It has been this call for which the Bride has anxiously awaited these past months of at least a year since betrothal.  Now, the time is ready – the culmination of long desire and dreams. This describes the Last Day when Christ shall come for His Bride – the Church! On hearing the trumpet and call, the Bride immediately arises and departs with her Bridesmaids for the wedding feast. The Ten Virgins had the significant role of providing light for the procession to give it beauty and majesty in the dark night. How descriptive and beautiful of the clarion call that shall one day sound from Heaven: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thess 4:16-17) All of our dreams, hopes, and expectations of the ages shall be made real at this time – no more murder (for there shall be no more death), no more hunger (for the Marriage Feast is at hand), no more child abuse (for those innocents will gather around the feet of Jesus), and no more pain (for all such has passed away for the faithful).