Jesus said, "In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. Therefore, keep awake -- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake." The words Jesus uses in this Gospel scare up thoughts of demons and of great madness. They are significant reminders that we don't know how quickly things can end. It is possible you take these words to literally be a sign of events to come. Or, you may think this is a hyperbole describing the end of your own life. "And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:27-28)." In the Nicene Creed we often loose sight of the true meaning behind each word or phrase we use. Consider this part of our creed, "...He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come." If we say this creed we should look forward to the return of our Lord. The words we say are historic, but they are fresh every time we recite them. God's mercy is great and endures forever. Whether we accept the infinite love of God, or whether we don't want any part of it, God loves us unconditionally. We have heard over the ages how Christ will return, but even Christ doesn't know the hour. Only God knows when this return will occur. As we all strive as Christians of the Episcopal flavor may we always strive to be awake. May we always strive to be alert to injustice. May we as individual followers of the risen Lord be found awake when we take on immortality. Amen.
***Pray especially for: Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, David Garber and family, Pete & Mary Jane Walburg, Ginny Henline, Tommy Thompson, John & Delberta Allen, Misty McCoy, Madeline Vaught, Nathan McConnell, Camden Albano, Peggy Ann Turner, Pam Shinault, Jimmy Milas, Katie Armstrong, Donald Kaltenback, Harry MacRae, and Susan Beeler.
Collect:
ALMIGHTY GOD, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(1st Reading Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18, 2nd Reading I Corinthians 1:3-9, Gospel Mark 13:24-37)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are encouraged by members and friends of Saint Paul Episcopal Church. Please keep it friendly and respectful!