A Meditation for Trinity 22
Collect
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Malachi 4:1 – 2a
Luke 21:5-19
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’
They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’ And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near! Do not go after them.
‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.
The Gospel passage above is sometimes referred to as a ‘Little apocalypse’, in which Jesus is talking about the ‘end times’ that we read about in the Book of Revelation – the victorious battle over evil leading to this world being replaced by the New Jerusalem. It certainly does have a prophetic element – but I’m not sure that Jesus really is talking about those ‘end’ times – rather, He is predicting the more immediate persecution of His followers on earth, not in the heavenly realm. ‘The end will not follow immediately’; He is talking about now and the immediate future.
Jesus is hosting a discussion with His followers (not just the Disciples, and not necessarily Jews) – most of whom don’t appear to have ever travelled far from their home village. They have never seen such magnificence. It’s grandeur could almost attract them back to the old ways of legalism and religious hierarchy.
Jesus destroys that admiration. Look at it while you can, He says, because like all the other things of the world, it won’t last. But the eternal Kingdom of God will.
Terrible things will happen. Humankind has fought wars since the beginning of time and is likely to continue to do so if current world conflicts are anything to go by. False prophets and corrupt leaders will attempt to manipulate our lives, and that, Jesus tells them, may result in us experiencing hardship, treachery and suffering – but it will also provide you with an opportunity to witness to the truth. The world is not necessarily going to hell in a handcart tomorrow, though it often seems that way – just as it has for many, many years. (The invention of gunpowder in the 9th Century was thought to be the beginning of the end)
In ways, the Christian Journey is like a race – a Marathon, not a sprint. The key is endurance, Jesus says. There will be mountains to climb, tears and heartache in the depths of your soul, and it will sometimes feel like it’s impossible to carry on. But the world will continue, and end only in God’s good time.
The word of truth will prevail despite everything the world can throw at us. Whatever happens in the world, pray ceaselessly, wear the whole armour of God, keep your eyes fixed on the prize, and our certain reward is eternal life in the Kingdom.
But on those who honour my name, the dawn will break, the sun will rise – the sun of righteousness – and there will be healing in its light.
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