Today’s reading is Matthew 25

Tom writes:

There is much comfort in this chapter. And a wry smile or two when you think about it. Jesus says he will be late. Jesus says people will be so bored waiting for him they will fall asleep. Jesus says he will be gone such a long time even his servants will start thinking he isn’t worth the effort. Jesus gives the church a theology of absence. And even since then we’ve been trying to give it him back. Matthew 24 furnished us with a vision of the tribulation around the time of the cross. Matthew 24 was mainly about our past. Matthew 25 speaks starkly into our present. And Jesus says this - our biggest trial in this time between Jesus’ two comings is how we cope with his absence. Of course Jesus knew he would give his great commission spiel about being with his disciples everywhere, Jesus knew he would send his Spirit. And yet, despite the glorious gift of Jesus’ presence to the church right now there is also the trial of his absence. The two mingle together like chocolate and milk. We don’t like this, but it is His will for this age. How do you respond to Jesus’ absence? I know I am terrible in it. Here is the comfort - Jesus knew we would be. He gave us these parables to help us.

Firstly he urges us to equip ourselves to cope with his absence. The jars of oil might just be part of the story or they may point to deliberate habits to invite more Holy Spirit into our lives. Whichever it is, the question the parable asks you is this - are you intentionally preparing yourself for times when Jesus seems absent? The talents and the sheep parables come from another angle; will you obey only when Jesus seems close, or will you faithfully and repeatedly do what he has asked even when there is no whiff of his presence? We are a presence-loving people. Our church enshrines practices that seek the Presence of the Prince. Come Holy Spirit is our cry. And yet we must also emulate earnest endurance. We must promote simple faithfulness to the last, the least and the lost. In fact, when Jesus returns one of the biggest things on his radar will not be what we did when he was close, but what we did when he seemed absent - that is where true loving faithfulness is forged.

Question for reflection

How do you get on when God seems absent?

Matthew 25 - Friday 6th September