Mark 13:
1 As Yeshua came out of the Temple, one of the talmidim said to him, “Look, Rabbi! What huge stones! What magnificent buildings!” 2 “You see all these great buildings?” Yeshua said to him, “They will be totally destroyed — not a single stone will be left standing!”
3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple, Kefa, Ya‘akov, Yochanan and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what sign will show when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
5 Yeshua began speaking to them: “Watch out! Don’t let anyone fool you! 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will fool many people. 7 When you hear the noise of wars nearby and the news of wars far off, don’t become frightened. Such things must happen, but the end is yet to come. 8 For peoples will fight each other, and nations will fight each other, there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the ‘birth pains.’
[Complete Jewish Bible]
Growing up in southern California in the late '70s, '80s and early '90s, I experienced several earthquakes (including a big one at 4:32 in the morning!), and I also remember water rationing during an extended drought. So the words toward the end of Mark's Gospel lesson for today come alive for me in a very personal way.
Jesus is speaking in metaphors in today's reading, letting you and me know that life is not always going to be easy. In fact, there will be moments where life is just plain hard, and we will doubt and question everything about and around us. Yet, Jesus also affirms that the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus is in our very presence. In the midst of all that is happening, God remains faithful and present--walking with you and me in all of the moments of life--even in the moments when it seems everything is falling apart. The cross and empty tomb proclaim to you, me, and the world, that God has indeed triumphed and will not finish the work of redemption until the final day when all will be raised. Until then, we live in God's grace, for the sake of the world, and claim that grace in our lives--in all that is, was, and is to come.
In the midst of daily life, O God, make your presence known to me. As I walk in daily life, O God, remind me of your footprints right next to mine. In the moments that I cannot understand, O God, bring me a sense of your presence as I try to make sense of all that is happening around me. Remind me, O God, of your faithfulness to me and to the world through your Son's death and resurrection. Amen.
Scott McAnally
Lead Pastor, Lutheran Church of Hope Broomfield, Colo.
Master of Divinity , 2004
Mark 13:1 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!"
2 Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
4 "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"
5 Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.
6 Many will come in my name and say, "I am he!' and they will lead many astray.
7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.[New Revised Standard Version]
---------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment