Gospel: Mark 13: 24-32
The New Testament teaches one thing clearly and consistently throughout its pages - from this Gospel text through Paul and on to Revelation - and it is that Jesus was coming in that generation's time. From this fact we can deduce two things. The first is that those who claim some notion of Christian culture or theory of state are full of bunk, for no such thing exists or was expected in the Christian scriptures.
The second deduction is that the New Testament was clearly wrong on this idea of Jesus' coming, just as every preacher since claiming the end times has been wrong. It is a topic that receives far too much attention because it blinds us to the reality of God being present in our midst now in the present moment, present now in every person I encounter, present now in every event of my life. We have come to neglect the presence of God in the now for some future presence unknown to all.
The fundamental message and mission of Jesus is to live a life of mercy and love extended to all, especially to the poor and marginalized. It is not to perseverate on end times. If we fear the end times it is perhaps because we have failed to live this life of mercy to which we are called. If we do live this life of mercy, we have nothing to fear at any time, for God is present to us now and at all times.
No comments:
Post a Comment