Reverend Philip Stringer
Luke 21:25-36
LET US PRAY: Come, Lord Jesus -- and fill us with expectant waiting. Give us ears that hear your coming and receiving hearts. Come and lead us into the world to serve you, as we watch and pray for your coming in Glory. AMEN
[Story of being afraid -- but feeling better knowing that I wasn’t alone.]
“It’s more fun when you’re not alone.”
When Jesus told his disciples about the end of time, there was a lot for them to be worried about. There were already lots of ideas floating about concerning the end -- They lived in the age of apocalypticism -- many cryptic, foreboding images of the future. Our gospel reading for today is a continuation of a lengthy account that Jesus gave to his disciples, in response to their questions.
And Jesus shares some details, as you heard -- but underneath these he wants to teach the disciples something more important -- when you’re looking into the future, it’s more fun when someone else is with you. Namely, the future looks brighter when you know that Jesus is with you. The world, he told them, is a very confused, misguided place that will continue to be largely confused and misguided. But as the world works itself into hysterics wondering and worrying about the future, and what this means or that means -- do not be counted among them. “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Jesus’ words are not just for the end, they’re for now. When you know that the future is locked up secure, and the outcome is the victory of God -- that kind of information frees you up to not worry about it.
One can look, instead, at the present. The present for his disciples as they tried to sort out their priorities and loyalties -- and for us as we try to do the same -- in both instances, living in the present because of our place in the future.
The present can be a tough place and there are plenty of people who have suggested that having a strong faith means you won’t suffer, but that’s not what Jesus is saying. His words aren’t a denial of the suffering and brokenness of this world. Rather, they are a promise that these will be overcome by the one who loves us.
Jesus said that when you see terrible things happen, raise your heads because the time of his coming is near. We will suffer. We will feel loss. Some moments are frightening. It isn’t wrong to feel the sadness and pain of grief.
What he is saying is that we need not despair in such times, because the one who loves us is with us — and beyond even the comfort of knowing that he will carry us through, his words are an encouragement to stay the course in the present time. When you hear these things — when you see these things happening — don’t let them distract you from your calling; don’t let them rob you of your purpose in this moment.
Jesus is saying, “remember that you are part of a story bigger than this moment; you are part of a story in which Jesus overcomes all.
Martin Luther was once asked what he would do if he knew the world was going to end tomorrow. He said, “I would plant a tree.”
Some might question, “what’s the point?” Why plant a tree today if you know it will be destroyed tomorrow? I think it is because planting a tree today is what we have been created to do. To plant a tree today is to live with purpose. The meaning and purpose and focus of life is doing what God has called us to do right now.
This week we have several dates of commemoration on the Church calendar. This coming Tuesday, December 3 — the church commemorates Francis Xavier, Missionary to Asia, 1552. Francis spoke the Basque language of Northern Spain -- which is not related to any other language. It made it hard for him to communicate -- and hard for him to learn other languages -- yet he became a missionary to India, SE Asia, Japan & the Philippines. He learned the language of every place he went and wrote catechisms for the local people.
He also suffered severely from seasickness. But he took the journeys anyway.
Together with six others he formed the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
He spoke out against the Spanish and Portuguese colonists when he discovered their oppression of the indigenous people he served.
Francis Xavier raised up his head and was not distracted — HE WAS WATCHING -- He expected the kingdom to come in places far away and out of sight -- and so he went there. He valued the reward of community in Christ, more than he feared the unknown or disliked physical distress. Love for his neighbor was greater. Francis expected the Lord to come and establish the kingdom in the present -- and he was right.
Next Friday, December 6 -- Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.342. A bishop in modern day Turkey. Known for his love for God and neighbor, especially the poor.
He has become a symbol of anonymous giving.
When Nicholas saw suffering, he raised his head — HE WAS WATCHING -- and saw Christ in the poor and naked and hungry. He saw the glory of the Lord revealed in hearts that were comforted. Nicholas expected the Lord to be cloaked in the poor and downtrodden of the present -- and he was right.
Here were people in the world -- just like you and me. They saw people in poverty. They saw the powerful oppress the poor. They saw the hungry and those searching for answers. And they raised up their heads — and saw God in their midst. They saw their redeemer coming. They saw the Kingdom of God.
And here we are — we are in the present.
We see wars . . . and rumors of wars.
We see violence in far off places like Gaza and New York and places close to home — like Greensboro and Winston-Salem and High Point.
We see the powerful oppress the poor.
We see the suffering of the people in Western NC. We see the hungry in our own communities — 60% of children in NC qualify for free or reduced lunches at school. Will we raise our heads up and see Jesus coming near?
We see millions of refugees being turned away by many of the same people who in a few weeks will say they welcome the baby Jesus — who was born in a manger because there was no room in an inn — and who lived with his family as a refugee for his first years of life. Will we raise up our heads and see Jesus in these refugees, coming to our doorstep and knocking?
Will we raise up our heads in this present moment and see the Son of Man coming to us?
The difference between enduring life and living life in abundance, is knowing and believing that Jesus is in it with you, bringing meaning and value to every place, even now. Especially now.
Remember and be encouraged — We are not alone . . . Jesus is already coming.
AMEN
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