Love Amid the Ruins

Gospel: Luke 21: 20-28

Throughout this section of the gospel, the writer is vividly describing the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent events of the Christian community that took place thereafter: expulsion from the synagogue and persecution by the Romans.  In the midst of these calamities the Christian community were convinced those were the end times and that Jesus would be returning imminently.  Needless to say, such was not the case.

But amidst the calamities of their day and the false expectations they held, a calm, soft voice of the Lord can be heard: "Do not be afraid, I am with you.  Do not look for my second coming, for I have already come.  I am in your midst.  I am present within you.  I am in the person of the poor and needy.  Yes, I am in even your enemies.  Love them all.  Show mercy, forgiveness, and love.  The mission has not changed. Follow my example."

Our focus must always be on this soft, silent voice in the midst of the ruins.  Time and again we make the mistake of the early community of the church and perseverate on the end times, or we fret about the calamities of our times.  Like the storm and earthquake, God is not there.  God is the soft voice amid the gentle breeze that is in the midst of the ruins.  It is the voice of assurance, of presence, of love amid these ruins.