Devotion • June 26
Today’s Scripture Reading
Luke 21:5–19
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls. (NRSV)
Reflection
On May 25 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, tragedy beset the capital city as its beloved Cotton Tree — a 230-foot tall and 50-foot-wide national symbol of liberty and freedom — was felled by a heavy downpour. Over the 400 years of its existence, its shade protected formerly enslaved Africans from the Americas brought to its land by boats; its branches sheltered vultures who inspired literary giants, including Graham Greene, to capture their unique aura; it had been visited by the late Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s. The devastation of Sierra Leoneans and others around the world over the loss is immense. Journalist Lyme Cho included this quote from President Julius Maada Bio in the aftermath of its destruction: “When a tree falls naturally due to extreme weather, a new life springs forward. Together, we will preserve the legacy of unity, freedom, and liberty of our iconic Cotton Tree.”
As a person of Sierra Leonean ancestry, I can imagine that many would view such destruction as “the beginning of the end.” When people of any nationality consider the devastation wrought by violent weather patterns attributed to global climate change, we are often mindful of passages like Luke 21:15–19 and presume that we are now at the point of Christ’s imminent return. If not environmental devastation, then the latest news on Chicago’s crime statistics, national political hijinks, or other crises turn many of us into (ultimately unreliable) prognosticators.
But Jesus didn’t instruct the disciples to make predictions. He instructed them to do the following: “Beware that you are not led astray,” “Do not go after [the doomsday predictors],” “Do not be terrified,” “Do not prepare your defense in advance.”
Jesus shifts the focus from predicting destruction to trusting in him to prepare them to face the coming days as witnesses to the gospel of truth. In so doing, he assures them that “not a hair on your head will perish.” May hope amid despair prevail.
Prayer
In the bold name of Jesus, O God, we pray for your Spirit to prepare us to face great challenges with even greater assurance in your guidance. Amen.
Written by Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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