The word “preparedness,” usually does not cause smiles. It’s commonly understood to mean “being ready for the worst” and is often coupled with the word “disaster,” as in “disaster preparedness.” If you Google “preparedness,” the first things that come up are places that sell assorted emergency kits, the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) website and blogs about how to stockpile supplies to survive some calamity.
So preparedness often has negative connotations, but it can refer to being ready for something good to happen. For example, if you are out of work and you learn that a certain company will be hiring in a couple of weeks, preparedness could refer to buffing up your resume, learning more about the company so you can explain to the interviewer how your skills can be an asset, and taking down whatever unflattering pictures of yourself that you put on Facebook in unthinking moments.
The parable
The parable in our reading today is about preparedness, but in the positive sense of being ready for the best. It concerns a wedding, but its point is obscured for modern readers because it refers to marriage practices different from our own. The Jewish marriage of the first century was often a two-step process. The first was a marriage contract, called a betrothal, often arranged by the parents of the bride and groom. Once that contract was set, the couple was legally married. They didn’t live together yet, but the contract could only be ended by a divorce. This step often lasted as long as a year. (Mary and Joseph were in this stage when the angel announced to Mary that she was to have a child, which was why Joseph at first considered a divorce when he learned Mary was pregnant.)
The second step was the celebration of the marriage itself, which typically included a marriage feast that could last several days. From that point on, the couple lived together.
&
...approximately 1,541 words remaining. You are not logged in. Please see options at the top of this page to view complete sermon.
