Did you hear the one about?

Readings for Sunday 6 November 2011, 21st Sunday after Pentecost --thoughts about Joshua 24, 1 Thess 4:13-18, Matt 25:1-13
We are now moving on
These last few weeks are called in the Church of England, our sister church,
Kingdom season
I think this is a very useful reminder
that what we are about
is God's work
is establishing the kingdom.
we are not just meandering around
God is working a purpose out as year succeeds to year.
And that purpose is the kingdom which proclaims
Good News
to the poor 
the imprisoned
those in need of healing
the blind 
the crippled.
As years go on I realise that these 'categories' 
are both figurative and actual
...there are many imprisoned who are not in gaol...
but that should not let us escape the reality
that there are people actually in gaols!


So any way the Gospel reading !!!!


It almost reads like a joke
Did you hear the one about the bridesmaids 
who got locked out of the reception?
You know they  spent the best part of the last two years 
preparing for this wedding
and then  they got locked out of the reception venue!!!!


The point?
Don't forget what's important
For the Christian...
You know the Anglican Covenant discussion
may be important
but there are people in jail!


For the Australian
The political fascination
of parties that hate each other
...there are people flooding to our shores 
whose lives have been devastated
by greed, rape, poverty
famine.
for God's sake!!!!
And I use that expression advisedly