Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!

 

 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight a cry was heard:  'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'  But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

 

- Matthew 25:1–13 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been teaching about the end times.  On Saturday, we read that Jesus taught, "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.   But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'  and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,  and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.  Therefore shall be weeping gnashing of teeth."

 

 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight a cry was heard:  'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'  But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."  My study Bible tells us that this parable illustrates the need for being spiritually prepared while the bridegroom; that is, Christ, is delayed in His return.  The Kingdom is frequently portrayed as a marriage (Matthew 22:1-14) between Christ and Christ's Church.  This marriage will be consummated at the end of the age when the Bridegroom returns to escort His Bride; that is, the Church, into the eternal wedding banquet.  My study Bible adds that this parable is primarily about the virtue of charity in almsgiving as the words for olive oil and "mercy" are sound alike in Greek.  (Keep in mind that until recently in history, Scripture was always heard, not read, by common parishioners.)  The wise virgins are those who practice charity and mercy in this life, my study Bible says, while the foolish are those who squander God's gifts.  Moreover, the fact that all the virgins slumbered and slept indicates death:  in this world both the virtuous and the sicked will die.  The cry at midnight gives us the Second Coming, when the wicked will arise with the righteous for judgment.  The incapacity of the righteous to share their oil is not to be understood as a lack of generosity.  Instead it teaches us about the impossibility of entering heaven without one's own faith and virtue.  See also the parable at the end of yesterday's reading, above, in terms of the themes of persistent virtue and living faith while awaiting Christ's return.

 

 Many people seem to understand Christianity and Christ's teaching merely something that insists on belief at its core, as its substance.  But today's parable tells us something quite different.  The emphasis on the lamps and flasks or vessels full of oil (ἔλαιον/eleion) is an echo of the notion of acts of charity, compassion, or mercy (ἔλεος/eleos) teaches us something about what it means to truly believe at its heart.  In the Old Testament the understanding of righteousness is tied directly to this Greek word.  It can be understood as the summing up of the two greatest commandments as named by Jesus ("'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself'"; see Matthew 22:36-39).  For these two commandments taken together are understood to indicate a faith and loyalty to God, a covenant of love, that is borne out in the ways we live.  In other words, an active love.  This is the practice of love in action such as we see in Christ's actions in the world, a compassion informed by and inseparable from the love of God.  Just as a flame to a lit lamp is reflective of the glory and light of God, so we need fuel to be able to do that ourselves; the treasure of the love of God with which we fill ourselves enables us to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).  Without this precious treasure of oil or mercy within ourselves, how do we 'let our light so shine?'  With what are we able to glorify our Father in heaven?  Indeed, the very act of doing so is what affirms us as children of God by adoption, members of Christ's Church.  Thus, being so filled and so doing, we are prepared to meet our Bridegroom at His Return, for the wedding feast that is the union of Christ and those who truly belong to Him, His people.  And it is in the telling and preparation Christ has done over the course of the past several readings in teaching about end times and His return, He has prepared the disciples (and us) for this grand event of return, the promised wedding of Bride and Bridegroom.  In the marriage image, we return to Christ's words regarding marriage in which He quoted from Genesis, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (see Matthew 19:5; Genesis 2:24).  It is this image of Bride (the Church, or people of God) and Bridegroom that is emphasized as the great good news, the true comfort of the return of the Bridegroom, Christ's Second Coming.  It is this for which the parable tells us we're to be prepared, just as all that He has taught regarding our conduct through these end times in which we await Him emphasizes endurance in the practice of our faith, following His commands, being alert to the things He has told us and warned us about (Matthew 24; see especially His final parable from Saturday's reading, above).  Here is how we are prepared for His return, like the wise virgins who live their lives as His true children (see also this parable).  Indeed, these teachings are also part and parcel of Christ's great critique of the ways of the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites, who praise God with their lips, but fail to live the faith they proclaim (Matthew 23).  So, as Christ draws near to His human death on the Cross, we are to take all of these teachings together and to understand what it is He tells us and asks of us as His disciples and spiritual children.  We live our faith, and it is through a covenant of love, which He will make possible through His voluntary death in defeating death for us so that we may enter that union with Him and be with Him (John 17:24-26).  Let us live our faith, the the world will know we are His (John 13:34-35), and that we may be one at His return.

 

 

 

 

 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field

 

 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

 

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."  Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."

 

Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." 

 

- Matthew 13:44-52 

 

On Saturday, in the midst of Jesus' beginning to preach in parables, He sent the multitude away and went into the house.  And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."  He answered and said to them:  "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.  The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.  Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

 

  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."  The parable of the treasure hidden in a field, my study Bible notes, is an illustration of those who unintentionally stumble onto Christ and His Church, yet receive Him with great eagerness.  The parable of the pearl of great price illustrates those who have been searching in their hearts for Him and finally find Him and His Church.  The other pearls, it says, represent all the various teachings and philosophies of the world.  These treasures are hidden in that they are neither recognized nor valued by those immersed in worldliness.  In both parables, receiving the treasure requires that everything else must be sold; that is, my study Bible says, a person must surrender all things in order to receive Christ.  

 

 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."  Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  According to my study Bible, the image of the fishing net gathering the good and wicked together is similar to the parable of the wheat and the tares (see Saturday's reading, above).  In this parable, Jesus further emphasizes that even those gathered into the Church are subject to judgment.  

 

 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."   My study Bible tells us that St. John Chrysostom notes on this passage that Jesus does not exclude the Old Testament.  Instead He praises it as a treasure.  Those who truly write or speak of the kingdom of heaven will draw from the unity of the new and old Testaments, as both are holy, with the New being the fulfillment of the Old.  This is truly how St. Matthew composed his gospel, in which he repeatedly uses the formula, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken," referring to passages from the Old Testament (see Matthew 1:22; 2:15, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17, 13:35; 21:4; 26:56; 27:35).

 

 Jesus submits yet more parables to us illustrating the working and characteristics of this kingdom, what it "is like."  (For the earlier parables of the kingdom of heaven, see Matthew 13:1-43.)   The first two parables in today's reading speak of the precious quality of the kingdom of heaven, and how it exceeds the worth of all else we might have in our lives.   Jesus says that "the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."  Note how this hidden treasure and pearl of great price are not simply worth every effort, but they so supersede the preciousness of everything else that all else is subordinate to it.  That is, whatever must be done to keep this treasure and this pearl, or whatever must be sacrificed, is worth the cost and the effort.  Jesus teaches, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."  This parable points to the continuity of spiritual revelation and wisdom; as St. Chrysostom teaches, the New is the fulfillment of the Old.  It teaches us of the great value of all of this treasure.  But also, like the parable of the tares of the field, He is teaching about judgment, and also about discernment.  Notably it is also a warning to us about the importance of where we place our treasure, what we value and seek in life, that which we cling to.  Additionally, we're given an important teaching about angels; that is, the angels of the kingdom, and the important and active role they play in our world, carrying out the wishes of Christ the judge.  Let us pay careful and even joyful attention to all of the things that Jesus teaches us the kingdom of heaven is "like," for in them we find the greatest treasure, the pearl worth any price, the great sea of the just.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it

 

 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.  

 

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."  Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

 

- Matthew 13:44-52 

 

In chapter 13 of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus has begun teaching in parables.  He began with the parable of the Sower; then we read His explanation for why He speaks in parables, and He also explained the parable to His disciples.  Next He taught the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and after that the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house.  And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."  He answered and said to them:  "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.  The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.  Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears, let him hear!"   

 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.    Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."  My study Bible explains that the parable of the treasure hidden in a field illustrates those who unintentionally stumble onto Christ and His Church, yet receive Christ with great eagerness.  The parable of the pearl of great price, it says, illustrates those who have been searching in their hearts for Him and finally find Him and His Church.  The other pearls represent all the various teachings and philosophies of the world.  These treasures are hidden, in that they are neither recognized nor are they values by individuals immersed in worldliness.  In both of these parables, to receive the treasure requires that everything else must be sold; that is, a person must surrender all things in order to receive Christ.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."   This image of the fishing net which gathers together all the good and the bad is, in this sense, similar to that of the wheat and the tares (see this reading for the parable, and its explanation above, in yesterday's reading).   My study Bible tells us that this parable further emphasizes that even those gathered into the Church are subject to judgment.  

Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"  They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."  My study Bible cites St. John Chrysostom's commentary on this subject, in which he states that Jesus does not exclude the Old Testament, but rather praises it as a treasure.  Those who truly write or speak of the kingdom of heaven, it says, will draw from the unity of the new and old Testaments, for both are holy, with the New being the fulfillment of the Old.  This is truly how Matthew composed his gospel, as repeatedly we read "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken" citing the fulfillment of the Old in the New (see Matthew 1:22; 2:15, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 26:56; 27:35).  These examples teach the intervention of God throughout history, and demonstrate the continuity between the Old and New Covenants, indicating the beginning of this new creation in Christ's gospel of the kingdom. 

 

So what do we think of as treasure, and why does Jesus speak of treasure?  Clearly, treasure gives us an understanding of something of great worth, invaluable in comparison to the rest of the things of the world.  A treasure is something we prize and protect, we value it exceedingly and cherish it.  We look at it over and over again, and marvel at its beauty and worth, and what it means to us.  Over and over again, a true treasure will reveal to us something new at which to marvel or to appreciate.  This is how Jesus illustrates the kingdom of heaven, as a treasure hidden in a field, which gives such great joy it's worth selling everything else to have it.  It's like a pearl of great price among all other pearls one can find, so worthy of its value that  one may sell everything one has in order to have it.  This is the doctrine of the kingdom, something presented to us as worth everything else, and worth giving everything else up for.  I wonder how many of us can value this precious kingdom we're given by Christ.  How many are capable of even discerning its presence?  It is truly like a prize of tremendous beauty, that will add that beauty to everything else in our lives, because its value begins to shine in us and through us and reflect back to us in the beautiful things in the world.  We might marvel, as did Christ, at the beauty of the lilies of the field (Matthew 6:28-30), which Jesus says are clothed by God in glory -- and so, Christ points out, that if God even arrays flowers in a field in such beauty, how much beauty does God find in human beings?  If we think about pearls in ancient times, we understand that we are speaking of pure nacre and a symbol of purity.  That is, a pearl (before modern cultivation methods) was something which was the same substance from the inside to the outside.  The brilliant glow of the nacre, and the purity of a true "pearl of great price" would make it worth every other prize and possession, and more.  It is a true illustration of the beauty and glory of the kingdom.  In each case, Jesus makes it clear that this kingdom can be a part of our lives, something we treasure and which adds luster and beauty to everything else we have or see or do, lending meaning and power.  If we look at the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and its counterpart in today's reading, the dragnet which collects good and bad, we understand that both the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price illustrate the way that God sees us when we hold Christ's treasure and pearls dear, and treasure them within ourselves.  When we hold the things of God precious, so God finds us precious, and seeks us as God's treasure in that great dragnet.  It's important to note that in Jesus' explanation for both this parable of the dragnet, and in the one of the wheat and tares, it is the angels who do the sorting and reaping:  this judgment is not up to us, nor it is our work to do.  Ours is to know and seek the pearl of great price, the treasure hidden in a field, and to cherish it ourselves, growing to become more like it -- so that God may find in us God's treasure.  Like a truly loving parent, as Gods' children, or "sons of the kingdom" as Jesus put it in the explanation of the parable of the Wheat and the Tares (above), we are God's treasure in this world, those who "shine forth like the sun."   By choosing the right treasure, and dwelling in its teachings and meanings, living its life, we become more like that pearl, and more like that treasure hidden in a field.  We become the ones sought by the angels, and treasured by God as heirs and children who bear God's name in the world, even the glory of the kingdom of heaven.