Friday, June 9, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading
Luke 17:20–37

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them — it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.” Then they asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (NRSV)

Reflection
Calculating the date for Jesus’ return and the end of the present age has been a tragicomic sidebar in the history of Christendom. Entire denominations have arisen from the premise that the exact date is hidden somewhere in scripture if only believers were clever enough to puzzle it out.

No matter how many times Jesus had to remind his disciples, as in today’s passage, he was forced to explain it again. Maybe it’s baked into human nature. Are we so impatient to know? Would we like a few more unexamined years before really, really devoting ourselves to God’s purpose? Do we want assurance that we really are God’s favorites?

It’s fortunate for us that Jesus was fully human. Maybe he understood the yearning better because of it. I just shake my head.

But I don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking I’ve sorted it all out. Do I live every moment as if it could be my last? I might not witness the final judgment; does that make it unreal to me, or for me? Do I rest contentedly on my reading of scripture, while ignoring the yearning of people who want or need deliverance now?

It would be a shame to keep the eternal importance of God’s kingdom safe under a bell jar on a dusty shelf in the study, a desiccated relic. In our faith, mysteries intertwine with certainties, and ignoring one group risks depleting the other.

Prayer
Heavenly Creator, the idea of final judgment and a second coming is beyond my grasp. Please forgive me for my limitations, and help me stay open to those things past my understanding. Even with my limitations, please guide me to do your will. Amen.

 Written by Jim Garner, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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