The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

We can all relate to the comforting feeling of walking into a place where we are known. Whether it is a favorite place to relax, home, work, or hopefully, church, there is nothing like
walking into a room and being greeted by good friends. And doesn’t it feel so flattering when a store clerk remembers our favorite order?

On the flip side, not being recognized when you expect to be can be deflating. I had a recent experience when an old family friend didn’t recognize me. It was, I’m sure, painful for both of us. Especially when she mentioned how much I’ve “matured in appearance.”
Many people can also relate to the pain and grief when a loved one with dementia no longer recognizes them. But sometimes, it’s just that the other person is too busy to focus on your name, and then we can feel like a nobody.

This parable can bring up the same feeling of awkward anxiety. No one wants to be on the other end when the bridegroom says, “Truly, I tell you, I do not know you.” Especially when we make the connection that the bridegroom is meant to be God or Jesus and the wedding banquet is the kingdom of heaven. What on earth did these bridesmaids do to be so unprepared that they are unrecognized? How do we relate this to our own life journey?

Our first take on the parable might be that the foolish bridesmaids fell asleep, but if we look back at the story, they all fell asleep. So, that’s not it. Next, we might wonder why the
wise ones didn’t share their oil. Doesn’t this say more about their stinginess than the other’s foolishness? And really, shouldn’t there be enough light with only 5 lamps? Pretty soon,
we are scrambling for answers and wondering what kind of perfectionistic planning is required for admittance to the party. Because, really, nothing quite takes the sting out of not being recognized.

So, before we continue, let’s take a reassuring deep breath and remind ourselves that our salvation is assured only by God’s grace, not the perfection of our preparation. Throughout the Bible, we are reminded that God has a unchanging knowledge of each of us that goes back to our inception in the womb. In other words, God knows your name. Now, let’s take another look at the story and remember that it’s a metaphor. And it’s not a metaphor for a long night waiting, but instead for a lifetime of relationship with God. It’s not about the oil, it’s not about the lamps, it’s about our attention to the presence of God.

Here, it might be helpful to turn back to Cheers. For the few of you who may not be familiar with the show, "Cheers” was an iconic American sitcom that aired from 1982 to 1993. It was set in a friendly Boston bar named Cheers, where a close-knit group of locals gathered to share their joys, sorrows, and humorous life experiences. In this welcoming environment, the bar’s regulars form a surrogate family of misfits where each is
accepted despite their unique quirks.

The backbone of our sitcom is the regularity of the show and its patterns. Each week, it airs and opens with the familiar feel- good theme song. Each week, the same characters walked in and sat down in their regular spots. Each week, the same people, Sam, Diane, Carla, Clif, Frasier, and Norm (and later Woody), gathered in their nightly ritual of life.
They model relationships formed with time and effort. With trial and error. They came from a variety of backgrounds and held different political views, but they formed a family of their
own making because they showed up for each other over and over despite their differences.

Do we show up to God with the same regularity? Do we turn to prayer each night? Do we attend church with the same faithfulness we used to catch our favorite sitcoms back in the
days before DVR and streaming meant we could watch anytime?

God desires to know us like the characters of Cheers knew each other. God wants in on our difficult times. God desires to hear our funny stories. God wants a relationship with you.
But friends, the struggle is real. Some days, life seems to take everything we’ve got. There are many distractions in the world that will try to draw us away from this relationship. The Bible often refers to evil in the world as the Adversary. Sometimes, it feels exactly like a force is actively trying to distract us from

God. When we want to pray, we might find ourselves pulled to the news or getting just one more thing done. And some distractions have more power to compete for our
time with God. Phones, TV, and the Internet are easy to scapegoat, but some things fool us into thinking that they are more worthy of our attention, or even that they are our pathway to God. Given the Cheers reference, I would be remiss without acknowledging how alcohol and other agents are so harmful to many. But some things are even more insidious.
Always seeking a better job or career status because we think it will provide better for our family. Constantly striving for a better physical appearance. Never missing a sports game.
When something fools us into false worship, we call it an idol.

Unlike a social club, God expects us to be prepared and faithful. God calls us to return as faithfully as we follow our favorite sports team. God desires a relationship with us because,
through loving relationship, we have a safe place to grow, grieve, and learn throughout all the ups and downs of life. If we’re truly looking for a place where we can take a break from
our worries, then God is waiting patiently.

Think of the most faithful people you know. Maybe it’s someone personal, maybe it’s a more recognized person like Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Faithful people make
a divine relationship the priority in their lives. This centering of God, a relationship with God, gives them an equanimity even in the most difficult situations. Often, we think of these
prayerful people as not suffering as we do, but in reality, I usually find that they maintain a certain calm because they don’t wrestle with challenges alone, they have God to share the
load.

Wouldn’t you like to get away from all your worries? Wouldn’t you like a place to hand off life’s troubles? Well, a relationship with God is like being a regular at the bar of grace. We show up faithfully in worship, prayer, and service to offer ourselves to God and receive God’s love. And I promise you, that every time you return, every time you offer yourself, you will find that God knows your name.

The Rev. Mercedes Clements