As I was studying this morning's Second Lesson,
there was born in my mind and heart
a poem modeled shamelessly on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" (1845),
a poem I have not been able to suppress and feel the need to share!
So here as my whole sermon is a single poem.
If you deem it successful,
perhaps I'll apply as a vacation substitute for Charles Osgood!
The Bridegroom
© Byron E. Shafer
Once upon a midnight bleary, bridesmaids waited, weak and weary,
For the coming of the bridegroom promised in remembered lore.
While they nodded, really napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone loudly rapping, rapping at their chamber door.
"'Tis the bridegroom," some man shouted, rapping on their chamber door.
"'Tis the one we're waiting for!"
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in a bleak December,
that the bridesmaids blithe did gather—ten were there, no less, no more.
And they'd kept their lamps long burning, tokens of their love & yearning
For the one who'd be returning so they'd know joy evermore.
"Hark, the bridegroom," one maid uttered, "soon will be outside our door.
Trim your lamps! We'll go adore!"
Each one took her lamp, to trim it. Five had oil without a limit,
But the others soon discovered they'd exhausted all their store.
"Share with us," the foolish blurted. "No, we shan't," the wise asserted,
"Shame, that oil to be inserted in your lamps you have no more.
Foolish, get you to the merchants, there to quickly buy some more.
Hasten, lest he come before…"
Ran the foolish to the city, filled with sorrow and self-pity,
While the others hurried, lamps still lighted, out their chamber door.
Suddenly to these their master came, aglow like alabaster.
Him they followed fast and faster to the wedding hall before.
There they feasted, there they reveled; soon the hour of mirth was four.
Said the bridegroom, "Lock the door."
Later came the foolish bearing lamps alight, fine clothes a-wearing.
Called they out to him inside, "Sir, your forgiveness we implore."
Since the bridegroom's drums were beating,
came a servant for repeating,
"'Tis some visitors entreating entrance at your festal door."
"What, late visitors entreating entrance at my festal door?"
Quoth the bridegroom, "Never more!"
Lest you sit engaged in guessing what this parable's expressing,
since its answer has great meaning, here's the point that's at its core:
"Wisdom lies in preparation—loving God without vacation,
Loving neighbor as vocation, bringing justice to the fore—
While we wait the day to come when Christ will call us yonder o'er."
This its meaning, nothing more!
Let us pray:
O God, may we prove to be wise bridesmaids, prepared at all times for the
coming in fullness of Your reign, prepared at all times with a ready and
generous reserve of the oil of just and loving deeds. In the name of Christ,
our Bridegroom, we pray. Amen.