16/11/25
Malachi 4:1-2a
Psalm 98
Luke 21:5-19
You can always tell when we are getting close to the end of the church year – the lectionary readings begin to talk about the end of time. The Wednesday Study Group has been mulling this over for the last few weeks as we study The Book of Revelation.
There are only two weeks left before the start of Advent – scary I know! We should enter this season of waiting, preparing and expectation with an expanded view of God and his coming kingdom. I want us to do this with joy. Joy in our hearts and be sources of joy in the world. The Church of England’s Advent & Christmas campaign this year is around joy.
I do not always pay enough attention to some of the campaigns – but this year I have drunk the kool-aid. I think that the branding is beautiful and the message is so badly needed. We all need joy! The world needs joy.
Jesus’ ‘end of times’ warnings were not his most endearing nor evidently joyful. The disciples did not have the luxury of knowing what would happen. They are still unaware, unclear on the impending crucifixion of Jesus; let alone the resurrection and ascension. We live on the other side of those events. We are still all waiting for the end.
There are versions of Jesus’ warning about the destruction of Jerusalem’s beautiful temple in Matthew and Mark too. This passage occurs in the middle of the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. Jesus has been preaching in the temple and has been warning Peter, Andrew, James and John about what is to come.
It is going to be awful. Jesus paints a vivid account of what to expect and reinforces the need for us to be vigilant. We have much in common. In 2025 we need to be reminded and aware of false teaching, lying, deception, war, famine and earthquakes. Some of us will have experienced some of these things on a greater or lesser scale. Jesus ‘ is clear that it will only get worse.
Many of these events happened with little to no warning or time scale; a lack of awareness of time is not a new phenomenon. The prophet Malachi warns of the coming day of destruction and nothing will be left. But, he says, those who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.
Sound familiar? Third verse of the greatest Christmas Carol ever composed.
Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king”
Despite having advanced technology and advanced knowledge of what, where and when it will happen, our humanness can make the reality of these events incomprehensible until they occur.
Recap: lots of really bad things are going to happen and we do not know when but watch out! Thanks Jesus. Thank God for the third verse.
All good Jews would have had great love for Jerusalem and reverence for the Temple. The disciples had all grown up not far away in Galilee; they too had walked the length and breadth of the city with Jesus. They knew the walls and gates. No Jerusalem and No Temple was inconceivable!
There is a sense of urgency in the questions they ask Jesus – When? What are the signs? No time frame makes this difficult! Jesus did not want the disciples to get overly fixated on either the time [whether it is long or short] or the events themselves. There is a kindness in this.
How do we measure time or response to a situation when there seems as though there is nothing to measure? Jesus’ concern is for preparation. It is Jesus who will protect, give them the words and wisdom that their opponents will not be able to contradict. The disciples though must make up their minds in advance and prepare their defence. We too must prepare ourselves in advance – how do we explain our faith? Are we ready for what is to come?
In Mark’s account, the disciples make comments about the grand size of the temple stones. In Luke’s, it is the beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God that get comment. They are impressed by the externals, but this is not what Jesus is after. Maybe this is why we can get lost in the Christmas stuff? We are attracted to the externals. They certainly are beautiful! I love a gorgeously decorated tree and twinkly lights, the special foods and delicious drinks in the celebratory meals at this time of the year.
I know some people get rather annoyed about all this stuff in the shops so early. This is why we need a prepared defence. To explain to people what this season of Advent is really about! It is about joy; the joy in the little things and treats. The greater joy of being part of something bigger and mysterious. No point is just being huffy about it. We also need to be prepared for what is to come; the end times should neither be fixated nor ignored. As we come close to the season of Advent once again, let us focus on the internals, the preparation that needs to happen in our hearts rather than in the shop windows and store shelves. Joy to the World! Hark the Herald Angels sing!
