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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion February 26, 2005 Keep Watch |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, February 26, 2005 By
Brenda Kessler
Matthew
25: 1-13
Today’s scripture is Jesus’ parable of the ten bridesmaids. Parables
are short stories with double meanings. In this parable the bridesmaids
are waiting for the groom so that they can prepare him for the wedding.
Jesus ends the parable by saying, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not
know the day or the hour.” (NIV Study Bible) The main point of the
parable is that the hearers of the parable need to keep watch because they do
not know the day or the hour of the parousia, the coming of Christ.
It seems to me that one of two responses most often occurs in response to this
scripture and others like it. One is, “Repent. He is coming soon.”
People who respond in this way worry about our “souls.” “Are you
saved?” they often ask. Others ignore the idea of a second coming
altogether. “He hasn’t come back in two thousand years. I’m
not even going to think about it.”
Both of these responses center on a Jesus who looks like many of the paintings
or who looks like the Jesus character in the movies. “Certainly Jesus
will look like a Middle Eastern Jew when he comes again. After all,
that’s what he was when he walked on this earth as the Son of God.”
As we are waiting for the second coming, could it be that Jesus presents himself
to us every day of our lives and we miss Him?
This past Sunday a young baby was baptized at the 10:00 am service at my church,
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Our senior pastor
was presiding alone because the associate pastor was teaching a new member’s
class in another part of the building at the same time. When it came time
for the baptism the pastor invited the children in the congregation to come
forward. In addition to the young brother of the baby, only one other
person came forward, an intellectually challenged young man. Our pastor
began the Service of Holy Baptism. It wasn’t long before he incorporated
the young man in the service. The young man became the associate pastor.
He held the papers with the baptismal service for the pastor. He helped to
light the baptismal candle and handed the light to the parents. The
intellectually challenged young man radiated with joy the entire time that he
helped with the baptism. Jesus was present at that baptism!
“Therefore keep watch. For you do not know the day or the hour!”
Prayer: Thank you, Lord God, for coming into our lives. Thank you
for coming in unexpected ways. Help us to keep watch for those moments
when you present yourself to us. Amen.
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