Dawn Upon Us

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gslclogo…from Worship at Good Sam on November 9, 2014Icon3Lectio32AProjec

Not very often do we use oil lamps to light our way these days, electricity is easier if not cheaper.  Perhaps when a storm blows through and the electricity goes out we might resort to an oil candle or lamp.  But that flashlight is pretty easy too.  Consequently we don’t have a lot of experience, trimming oil lamps.  Wicks need to be long enough to reach the oil reservoir and don’t forget to crop the tops (short).  Reservoirs need to be more than half full and the wick needs to have the proper amount poking through the choke.  Oil lamps need ongoing attention too, they need to be filled occasionally and now and them the wicks need attention.  Perhaps the image of trimming our oil candles is a good analogy for faith these days.   What does it take to keep our lamps (faith) burning brightly.  Wise followers attend to these matters.  In our lesson today from Matt 25 about the five wise and five foolish bridesmaids, half of them fail to be present in faithfulness when the Bridegroom appears.  You almost want to ask, how important was this arrival for them?

Awakening to God has always been a strong theme in the lives of people of faith from every age. But there is this curious linkage between learning to hear (or perceive) God and learning to see, know, and care for our neighbors. It’s as though the process of awakening to God is also a journey of awakening to our neighbor and then to better know our own work in the world as people of faith. As we learn to keep vigil, to keep our lamps burning brightly toward God, let us also learn what it means to bring light to the paths of those with whom we walk in faith.

Message from Worship at Good Sam on November 9, 2014  “Dawn Upon Us”