Devotional 12-4-21

Please read Luke 21:25-36 

There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea, and the waves.  People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see ‘the Son of Man’ coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  Luke 21:25-28

I imagine as you read this passage, you are thinking that surely, there was something different I could have used as a basis to write this devotional – something about a baby boy born in a manger or a priest struck mute by the thought of a child to come?   It’s not a passage that I really want to write about, and I could have chosen a different one, but part of our Advent journey should be to think about the return of Christ, and what that means in our life today.

The passage, an example of apocalyptic scripture, uses symbolic themes and imagery to describe Christ’s second coming.  Knowing that, but also knowing that “about that day or hour no one knows” (Mark 13:32a), I think we make a mistake if we try to read this passage as a way to predict an end-time.

Instead, we need to face our fear, and try to understand what these words means to us, today.  Today is a bridge between the past and the future.  Standing here, on this day, and looking back, who could have predicted what has happened over the last two years?  No one.  Looking forward, do we have any idea what tomorrow will bring?  No idea. 

What do we know?  We know that sad times will roar into our lives like the sea.  The earth will shake as catastrophes strike in our families.  There will be dark times when it seems like the sun, the moon, and the stars fail to shine.  This passage reminds us that even in those times, Christ comes.  God is here.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).  This was true when Jesus told it to his disciples.  It is true for us, also.

Prayer: Loving God, even when the earth moves, the dark comes, and our world seems to end, make yourself known to us in your love and light.  Amen. 

Kim Matthews