8-Nov-26

There's no question that our scripture for today is a call to "be ready." But just how are we ready? What is it that we watch vigilantly to see if we're prepared for the Lord returning?
Many of the prophets said that the test of a community was how it treated the "least" among them, the ones that society might either passively or even actively seek to forget about. The prophets refer to the widows, orphans, and strangers collectively as the ones to look out for.
In our own era, that list might read a little differently, but the members all have the same situation in part: They're on the outside of societies normal functions. They have few or no systems in place that watch out for their well-being. They're forgotten by the people in power and passively or even actively left apart.
Largely, our society is willing to allow that. The Church, however, cannot. If Christ comes and finds us failing to take care of them, his disappointment will be the same as that of the bridegroom finding that some of the people in waiting failed to keep up their supply of oil.
In a moment, the deacons will come and take up our offering for today. This is one way we can help to participate in the caring and concern of the Church, especially for those on the outskirts.

Prayer:

Please join me in a spirit of prayer.
Gracious, giving God, we thank you for all the ways you have generously blessed us. Help us to freely give to bless others, especially those most in need.
Bless these gifts, that they would be put to use to share your love with the forgotten and the outcast.
We pray in the way of Jesus, our Christ, AMEN