PENTECOST 23 (Proper 28) 2019

• Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12  • 
• Malachi 4:1-2a and Psalm 98  • 
• 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13  • 
• Luke 21:5-19

Nicholas Poussin -- The Destruction of Jerusalem

​As Advent approaches, the Lectionary readings take on a more apocalyptic tone, with warnings about turbulent times ahead, religious persecution, and finally, the end of history -- all in preparation for the transformation of the world. Since the Gospel passage was written after the destruction of the temple, it benefitted with hindsight. Luke knew that the warning was for real. Like the other evangelists, however, he places these warnings just before the passion narrative begins. This means that the story of persecution and suffering starts with Jesus himself. His 'followers' are just that -- people who follow in his footsteps.
     Two monumental wars and many other conflicts gave the 20th century an unenviable record for violence. Yet the relative ‘peace’ of 21st century has not been any less turbulent than the days of the Roman Empire. There are plenty of 'wars and insurrections', 'nation still rises against nation', every year there are 'great earthquakes, and 'in various places famines and plagues'. Even stable and prosperous societies like Britain and the USA can become deeply divided. In Europe followers of Christ are more likely to be held in contempt than persecuted. In many parts of the world, however, Christians are victims of violence and persecution more often than the adherents of other religions. This makes the events predicted in the Gospel easy to believe.

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Stanley Spencer -- Angels of the Apocalypse

     But what of the spectacular end to which all these trials were supposed to be a prelude? Don't we know now that these things are neither 'dreadful portents' nor 'great signs', but simply recurrent, disturbing and lamentable features of life on earth?
       In this same passage Jesus says, 'Beware that you are not led astray' by people who say 'The time is near!'. 'Do not go after them', he tells us, because 'the end will not follow immediately.' 'I am about to create new heavens and a new earth', God declares through the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament lesson. We need to view this promise through the perspective of eternity. While our interest in the future does not stretch much beyond a couple of generations, God's time is not our time. 'In your sight a thousand years are as the passing of one day', Psalm 90 reminds us. The task of true disciples is not to second guess God, but in the face of everything, to say what Isaiah says: 'Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation'. In this spirit, the challenge is to fix our gaze firmly on the Christ of the Cross who has gone there before us.

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