A Parable of Judgment (2016.07.10 Sermon)

John Chandler invited us to sit with the events of this week through the parable of the ten bridesmaids from Matthew 25:1-13.

Quotes and links mentioned:

“And then I explained to him how naive we were, that the world did now and remain silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure surfing and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must — at that moment — become the center of the universe.” — Elie Wiesel
Seminary Dropout 117: Drew Hart, Author of “Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism”
The Liturgists 34 – Black and White: Racism in America
The occasional sin (small s), we might manage to stop: some of us might possibly avoid this lie or that adultery. But none of us will ever avoid that trust in ourselves—and that distrust of anyone else—that lies at the root of the world’s problems. Those twin falsities of faith in self and unfaith in others are as irremovable by human effort as they are unpardonable by human good will. And therefore if they are ever to be removed or pardoned, it will only be by God’s gift. — Robert Farrar Capon