End

 

Reflection by Philip Harvey for the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, the 13^th of November 2022, at St Peter’s Church, Eastern Hill, Melbourne. 

The End of the World is ever before us. In fact, it has been before us for centuries, which is one way of appreciating Christ’s words that we are not to know the time or the hour. His message is to be vigilant. 

Like so much of the scriptural language of End Times, Luke speaks from a centre of great calm. This God-centeredness can take getting used to, given that calmness is very far from the content of much of the messaging. Plague, wars, famine, mass destruction and death - it’s like reading the newspapers. Or watching the movies. Only here the words are steadying, they speak of things that will come to pass, of things it’s necessary for us to keep in mind. At the same time there is the message, recurrent throughout scripture, whether stated directly or by implication or tone: Do not be afraid. Fear not.       

Indeed, scripture sounds almost matter-of-fact as to what needs to be done. The words are realistic about the impossible scale of apocalypse and anyone’s ability to avoid or control it, yet practical about how to respond, abide and endure. Malachi says “But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” Psalms declare that the Lord “will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.” Words of calm keep breaking through. And Paul says to the Thessalonians to “go on doing the things that we command,” namely in that context praying, sharing, and avoiding bone idleness. 

Jesus’ dramatic warnings in Luke about the destruction of the Temple are likewise calm, realistic and practical. If the Temple is the dwelling place of God, what to do when “not one stone will be left upon another”? He appears to be saying, such a day will come, a day in which all our illusions will be taken away from us. 

Sooner rather than later, we become aware that we are talking of things it is necessary to know, to be ready for, but spoken as a mystery. It is the mystery of how to speak of the future and ourselves on this one Earth in that future. Amongst the many signs and portents of End Times named in scripture are the words of scripture itself. What to make of them? There is time to take time. We are told though that it is about our relationship with God and with one another. Cataclysms, false prophets, persecutions, all these warnings in the world do not appear to be as important as the message to be watchful, do what is right, love God and one another, and live in daily gratitude. 

Malachi 4: 1-2; Psalm 98: 5-9; 2 Thessalonians 3: 7-12; Luke 21: 5-19.