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Proper 88, Ordinary 33, Pentecost 24 Mark 13.1-8, Hebrews 10.11ff. Daniel 12. 1-3 It seems that the Lutheran Liturgy is tied to a pre-Edison
calendar. As the nights are longer the lessons speak of cataclysm. And the
rumble of words colliding are heard… The OT book of Daniel speaks of “a time of anguish”. The
Book of Hebrews speaks of “the Day
approaching.” Jesus uses the rhetoric of his disciples about the temple
architecture to warn of its destruction. One of the things I remember when I came to this country as
a 10-year-old boy was Everywhere we went there were signs proclaiming the biggest
and the best. The world’s biggest hamburger, the Greatest Show on Earth, the
biggest alligator behind a wooden fence on Hwy. 17 as you drove into In today’s Gospel, Jesus cautions his disciples about being
impressed with bigness as the world measures bigness. “Then Jesus asked them,
Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be
thrown down.” Here we are in our brand new “temple” and we are reminded
that this too is destined for the wrecking ball. Since we have moved from I believe that our text for today is a word from the Lord
for us in this time and place. There are only 2 weeks left in this liturgical year...
Advent is in two weeks, Nov. 22nd. So from now to Christmas we will read passages from the
Bible that will speak of the end time and a “new heaven and a new heart” or as
the Gospel for today puts it: “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs…” So what is going on here? Disciples of every age are
impressed with bigness and the illusion of permanence. So after this week's nor'easter
– we haul more sand back on the beach until the next storm washes it away. The
illusion remains and we pay big bucks to maintain it. When it comes to our new building, I don’t think we need to
worry about illusions of grandeur. It is a modest, humble place that for awhile,
we will call home. Jesus was not impressed with either the size of the masonry
or the size of the buildings that made up the temple. He told them it all would
soon be gone… They ask when is this going to happen? He doesn’t answer – but he cautions them not
to sit around and wait. The Gospel ends with vs. 8. But the real “kicker” comes in
vs. 10. So let me read you the ending, as it should have been: “…this
is the beginning of the birth pangs. 10. And the good news must first be
proclaimed to all nations.” So our new home is not a resting place but a staging area
for battle; for discipleship and proclamation of the Good News! A misguided physician by the name of Maj. Nidal Hasan is no
longer a man of healing but of destruction. Whatever his motive, Jesus call us to be His presence of
healing in this broken world… Friday’s headlines in the Press “We’re getting beat up” although referring to the storm could just
as easily be about discipleship… Do you get the picture? Jesus asks us not to get too “settled” and too enamored with
outward appearances. Rather he uses the metaphor of “birth pangs” as a sign of
new beginnings, a cry of “get up and go be a witness,” sharing the Good News
that God is bigger than any building program, bigger than any army, bigger than
the forces of evil. You see, unlike those who have not heard the Good News, we
who have know how the story ends… So what are we waiting for? We have work to do. A budget to adopt (which defines where
we will put our time and talent; how we will prioritize our resources and
energies). We have two new soldiers to put on the front line even as we
welcome two of the troops from the battlefield. And thanks to Sandy Wunder we
even have battle decorations to give out to each of you. We have heard the Good News and now we will dine at the
table and be nourished as Jesus again comes to us in the sacrament of bread and
wine. What more can you ask for? |
