Why, you may ask. Well, it's a complicated question, that isn't as complicated as we would make it out to be. It's a simple enough question to look into things and work out why people would be wanting to live in the end times. Part of the reason we want the end of the world to happen during in our lifetimes, is so that we can be part of the scriptures, part of the plan of God, so we can see these events, the second coming, as part of our lifetimes, ratifying our choices and making abundantly clear that we were making the right choice, and backing the right pony all along.
But the readings today divide the people of the world into two camps, and they're both off. They're both a little off from where they should be. You have Amos speaking out against those who want the end of the world to happen. You have Amos asking why anyone would want the day of the Lord to come. It would be a terrifying day, a horrible day, a day of shaking and fear. It would be a day of trepidation, a day of terror, nothing would be safe, nothing would be nice or good. And when God speaks about people, he does so by saying that he hates their feasts, and takes no delight in their solemn assemblies, all the things that people had used for a long time to convince themselves that God wanted, all that stuff is useless to God. He is not interested in that. He is interested in repentance and fear, in righteousness and justice. Tht's what he's interested in. And if we haven't accopmlished that, if we haven't done all those things, you'd best hope that he's not coming back any day now. It's terrifying. If God comes, if Jesus comes back, and we haven't done what he wants us to do, if we haven't done what we should, then his return would be a horrible thing to behold.
But contrast that with the reading from the Gospel that we have, and see that we don't just have people who are trying to force the issue, but we have five foolish virgins, who assume that it's never going to happen. They are woefully unprepared for the return of the bridegroom, whom they all knew was going to come back, but they got used to feeling that perhaps he was never going to come back. He was never going to return, and so they got very complacent. Very complacent, laid back, not too concerned about when that might be, and so they were unprepared for when the bridegroom came back. And when he did come back, when the bridegroom returned, they had urn out of oil, much like the united states, and so they had to run and get more. And by that time, it was far too late for them to get into the party, so they were shut out.
These two things are held in tension. People who want God to come back, and people who assume that nothing is ever going to happen. And yet, and yet, there is a middle ground, a middle ground occupied by the wise virgins, those who are prepared for the coming of the bridegroom, those who packed extra oil, those who were carrying what they needed so that no matter when Jesus showed up, they would be ready. And this point is so unbelievably key, it's so important for us to know as far as end times prophecies go.
You see, there are a lot of end times prophecies. There are tons of people who are speaking about the end of history, the end times, the conclusion of history and the wrapping up of everything. The looking for signs and signals from the scriptures , to see where God is at work in the world, and will always tell you that you are living in the end times,
For you see, the wise virgins are the ones who are prepared, no matter when the bridegroom may come back. He could be back in five minutes, or five years, and they would be ready. And that is what we are called to do. We are called to be prepared, not to be living in the pie in the sky country, but to be at work in the kingdom always.
When God speaks in the words of Amos, he tells us that he despises feasts, that he takes no delight in burnt offerings, that he does not want burnt offerings or grain offerngs, songs or melodies. All the things that those who seek the end times, that's what they have, that's what they bring. And to seek the destruction of all things, to seek the fulfillment of revelation, to seek the end of all things is to turn your back on what you have been presented with for now.
Something strange about Jesus was that although he was divine, although he was focused on the work that he had to do to bring about the end of death and sin, he didn't ignore people. Because he knew that people were what it was all about. The justice and righteousness that are spoken to Amos, who do you think they apply to. What do you think they're about. Justice and righteousness don't exist in a vacuum, applied to nobody. They are applied to real people, in real times and places. They are applied to the poor, to the marginalized, to the people who can't help themselves.
And this comes to the heart of the end of all things. Obviously the world is still here. It hasn't ended since I started writing this sermon, so we're still in good shape. And why did Jesus decide not to end the world two thousand years ago. He did so for you. And for everyone else on earth, all the people who are here waiting for us. God relented in his return, and we ought to hope that he will continue to relent. We ought to hope that he will continue to tarry, in order that we might continue to be useful, that we might continue to encourage one another, build one another up, to do something worthwhile in the here and now while we may. Jesus tells us that we need to work while it is still day, for the night is coming when no one can work. It will be night eventually. There will be no more chance for work. But that time is not today. Not this day, not just yet. We ought to be working in the here and now, not rushing armageddon, and not pretending that it will never happen, but being cognizant of the fact that the end of all things will happen, when God is ready. In the meantime, we are called to that work that Amos asks us to do, to bring justice and righteousness, to be working on behalf of the people of God who are ground into the dust, to not be working for their eternal salvation while neglecting them in there here and now. James tells us that it does nobody any good to say to them that we wish them well while they are starving. God's desire is not for us to look for the return of Jesus while ignoring his body.
The greatest way to be prepared for the return of Jesus, honestly, is to be involved with his body now. How do you do that, well you do it by being here. The body of Christ is present in two ways in the here and now, firstly here in holy communion, where his body and blood literally are. Also, he has promised to be wherever two or three are gathered. That makes sense, and yet it seems to be almost too simple, yet here we are. This is where the body and blood of Christ are, and his presence in the worship service is a major part of that. Your savior is literally present here, at work in this place. And those who want and expect the return of Jesus would do well to be not just present for his second coming at the mount in armageddon, but instead to be around where he may be in the here and now, and that place is right here. This is where forgiveness of sins is given, life is preached, the scriptures are explored, and God is found.
And the second way to find the body of Christ is in his people. The people of the world, the scattered, the poor, the weak, the frustrated, the crippled, the sick, the weak, the body of Christ. How could you say that you have wanted the return of the body of Christ, if you have not cared for it at all while it was here all around you. And this is, as Christians, a generous part of what we have to repent of, and what we have to be forgiven from, from burning though our lamps, for not being mindful of the body of Christ here present. Jesus tells us that we will always have the poor with us, so there will always be an opportunity to work, how there will always be a chance to do things, his body will always need care. We, as his forgiven, redeemed children, we have a role, we have a part to play. It is incumbent on us to live our lives in a state of readiness, to be prepared to have Christ come back any day now, but to plan as though his return was thousands of years away. To be ready for whenever he may return, but to build programs, to construct opportunities for the poor and the weak.
In other words, we have been blessed by the Lord our God with opportunity, to work in his kingdom here on earth. We ought never to get complacent, thinking he'll never come back, nor ought we get too desirous for his return, seeking the great and terrible day of the Lord. Rather, we need to be alert, attentive, waiting for his arrival, and more than anything else, doing the work that he has set before us to do. The work of justice, of compassion, of repentence and of faith in him.
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