In this Twenty-First Century of Our Lord, most people have given up on the Final Days. Hasn’t happened, probably won’t. A few would-be magi in each generation have ascertained by natural phenomena that the Kingdom of God shall now be fulfilled…but something is always amiss, and the apocalypse is deferred. As a main-line participant, I believe that the Kingdom is even now in the process of becoming, that it actually is cascading all about us! We just don’t see it yet. Sunday’s lessons refer us to the coming Advent, when God’s New Thing will be glimpsed through the “mists of error, clouds of doubt”.
“Third Isaiah” is a collection of oracles given as prophecy after the return from exile in Babylon, around 525 BC. These messages of Chapters 56 to 66 are ones of hope and assurance that the LORD is actively operating Creation, and looks with favor on the righteous. “For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17) The oracle goes on to describe Jerusalem as a delight, with health and blessing and peace. This New Start has been a dream since ancient days: could it happen today? We just don’t see it yet.
So is it true, St. Paul asks the Thessalonians, that some of you are just hanging out, waiting for the Day of the Lord? (II,3:6-13) Don’t forget your duties to your community and your greater family, don’t forget that others are expecting you to pull your share of the load! Each one has a part of the job-market to accomplish, he says, so don’t be shy about doing the work of the Kingdom, even as it unfolds. It’s here, we just don’t see it yet.
Luke’s Gospel (21:5-19) could be seen by some as Bad News. No, what Jesus is saying is that despite the beauty and solidity of the Jerusalem Temple, it too is prone to destruction: “the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” (v.6) Divine Renewal moves us from Really Nice to Perfect, often with unsightly processes! I often mourn the demise of buildings — and ideas — which have been part of my life; yet the new structures which replace them are probably more efficient, more comfortable…better! Believers are called to move their worship focus from the Jerusalem Temple to the person of Jesus, the Christ. The Kingdom of God has drawn near, we just don’t see it yet.
Many will extol the virtues of yesterday and regret the excesses perceived in our current culture. Indeed, there are many ugly evils around us, unfortunately magnified by the abundance of world-wide information. But I’ll still tell you that the Kingdom of God is already present,with charity and beauty and hope! We just don’t see it yet.
God Bless Us, Every One H B King
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