Daily Lesson for November 10, 2014

Today's lesson come from Matthew chapter 25 verse 1:

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom."

Yesterday's lectionary text was the story where Jesus said the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five were wise and took extra oil for their lamps, Jesus said, while the other five were foolish and took none.  When the bridegroom finally arrived, the foolish virgins' lamps had run out of oil.

Though it has most often been interpreted as a story about awaiting the second coming, it is really more broadly a story about perseverance and hope.  It is a word of encouragement to keep your light shining though the night be dark and the journey long. That point was brought home by our choir which sang an African American spiritual "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning".  The power and the pathos of the words, "Children, don't you grow weary," speaks of something indomitable within the human spirit -- light which darkness cannot destroy.

As part of my sermon I referred to Tuesday being Veterans Day and how our community is asking us to leave our porch lights on tonight in remembrance of all those who are currently serving our country and have not yet come home.  We want them to know we are keeping our lights on for them.  And even for those who have made it home physically, but are still living in "the fog of war", we want them to know that the light is still on for them to fully come home also.

Leave your porch light on tonight - for a soldier, or a veteran, or anybody else who needs the light to make it through a long night.