Calvary Episcopal Church
Memphis, Tennessee
November 18, 2001
The Twenty-fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Lessons for Troubled Times
The Rev. Allen F. Robinson

Gospel: Luke 21: 5-19

Today's lesson in Luke's Gospel focuses on a topic that I believe the Christian Church has done its best to not treat in full-end time predictions. The end time, as far as Scripture is concerned, marks the end of the reign of sin and evil in this world and begins the eternal, unblemished reign of Christ.

There are some who wish not to address issues relating to the end time simply because it takes them into the realm of mystery and the unexplained. There are some, quite honestly, who may embrace the events leading up to the end time only if there is some rational explanation behind the events themselves. Since there is no true rational explanation behind these events, some choose to forego the subject altogether.

However, the majority of us are grounded enough in our relationship with God that we recognize the events described in Luke's Gospel as all a part of the unfolding plan of God's unending love for humanity. Much like the theology expressed in the burial liturgy, the end time and the reign of God does not mark the end of life, but is the start of new life in Christ. For most of us, we do not need all of the pieces of the Biblical puzzle in order to embrace our future as people of God, because we trust God to remain true to His word, that "not a hair on any of our heads will perish." Having described a gloomy picture to the disciples concerning the condition of world events, Jesus does not forsake them, but leaves them with encouragement to continue in the proclamation of the Gospel. And so, we too are left with the same encouragement regarding events of our own day and to continue faithfully in "the breaking of the bread and in the prayers."

Jesus reminds us that in times of great distress and discomfort to rely on the Holy Spirit to be our Guide. Even at our lowest moment in life, Christ will not abandon us, but will lead, guide and instruct us into all truth. Jesus encourages us to not see times of great distress and tribulation in our lives as times of fear and uncertainty, but as opportunities to proclaim Gospel. These are the times in which we are able testify that God is present in world events even at times when it seems not apparent. With conviction we may proclaim God's presence because we have been promised the "words and wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to withstand." This message may seem far-fetched until we think about the series of recent events that have and continue to forever shape our thoughts and ideals. In light of the horrific events of September 11 and the random mailing of anthrax to various political leaders and journalists, this country refuses to surrender its freedom--one revealed in the strength of brotherhood and sisterhood. As a nation, we are working together, perhaps now more than ever, for the betterment of humankind and the dignity of every human being. While we still face many uncertainties in life, our common love for one another has brought together many that under normal circumstances would not have done so. We are working together in a sincere effort to rebuild human integrity and dignity. While there are many new painful realities to lives, few would question the positive social impact that has come about as a result of such loss.

I believe that this is what Jesus meant when He said that He would give us a "wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to withstand." This "wisdom" that Jesus speaks of is not so much understood by what is said as by what is seen. The greatest setback to one who seeks to destroy, fracture and inhibit life is to see those very individuals lift one another up in triumph. To witness those lives that have been shaped by such pain and loss continue in the struggle to uphold the meaning and significance of life for others is triumph and not failure. It is a sign of wisdom that could only come from above.

Parker Palmer has written a wonderful little book entitled, Let Your Life Speak. However, I am intrigued by the subtitle, Listening for the Voice of Vocation. In his book, he writes these words, "A leader is someone with the power to project either shadow or light onto some part of the world and onto the lives of the people who dwell there. A leader shapes the ethos in which others must live, an ethos as light-filled of heaven or as shadowy as hell." This is the world that Jesus knew the disciples would be up against, as is the world we face in our own age. Our Christian vocation is to overpower the shadowy darkness with the light of hope. The Christian community exists for the purpose of giving hope in hopelessness. We exist to provide faith where there is none. We live to love others with the presence of God. Hope, faith and love are the voices of our Christian vocation and no one will be able to withstand or contradict its authority--as promised by Jesus.

The events we face in our own lifetime do not have to be seen as a shadowy hell but may be transformed into light-filled heaven by our convictions. We must decide, individually and corporately, that we do not wish to live in a world of fear, of wars, of pain and separation, but one immersed in the love of God in "thought, word and deed." In New Seeds of Contemplation, Thomas Merton reminds us:

Every moment and every event of our life on earth plants something in our soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in our minds and wills. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because we are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the good soil of freedom, spontaneity and love…The mind that is the prisoner of conventional ideas, and the will that is the captive of its own desire, cannot accept the seeds of an unfamiliar truth and a supernatural desire…I must learn therefore to let go of the unfamiliar and the unusual and consent to what is new and unknown to me. I must learn to "leave myself" in order to find myself by yielding to the love of God. If I were looking for God, every event and every moment would sow, in my will, grains of God's life that would spring up one day in a tremendous harvest.

Amen.

Copyright 2001 Calvary Episcopal Church

Gospel: 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

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