November 26, 2024

Seeing with the eyes of faith, focus on the Lord, and all is calm and still.  Don’t try so hard. Relax and be together with the Lord and the angels and Holy Spirit, like hanging out in the living room by the fire listening to stories or around the kitchen table chatting.  Don’t be afraid to hang out with the Lord and feel his love.

Luke 21:5-11

Today Jesus is teaching about the impermanence of the reality that we perceive as solid and immutable. For the people of his time, the temple, with its “costly stones and votive offerings” had an unmovable stability that would last for all ages.  But Jesus told them rightly that it would be destroyed – in fact, just 70 years later it was.  Then he goes further to describe hardships and chaos, when nations rise against nations, and there are powerful earthquakes, famines and plagues; “and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.” 

He instructs people not to believe those who come in his name saying the end is near (how many of those have already come and gone, indeed?) and also not to be terrified if they hear of wars and insurrections, because these alone are not the sign that the end of earthly existence is coming.  Yet at some point, even science tells us that this earthly existence cannot last forever in our constantly changing cosmos.

Moreover, as we know, overcrowding and climate change are making this world unstable for our species. The famines, plagues, and intense storms will get worse, this is known by science. Hard times are coming. We must link arms with those who seek peace, and we must care for those who are very poor, hungry, and hurting.  It will get far worse, and there will be widespread suffering.  Prepare now for how we will help people in such difficult circumstances in the coming years.  This is true.

Dwell in the realm of prayer, peace, and justice and do not mistake our earthly existence as solid or eternal. Knowing what we know, proceed with love and compassion, serving those who are hurting. We should not cocoon ourselves away from the pain around us, as this would also harm us spiritually.  Amen.