In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus and his disciples are at the temple in Jerusalem. Even today, what’s left of the temple mount is impressive, with bright, enormous limestone blocks set on top of one another. In Jesus’ day, the temple complex was even more massive, with gold accents, columns, and buildings set on the foundation of huge stones.
So of course the disciples are in awe of this structure, not only for its sheer size, but also for what it communicates about God’s strength and majesty, presence and might.
How shocking it must have been, then, to hear Jesus say that these massive stones are not as solid as they seem. “Do you see these great buildings?” Jesus says, “Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
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| Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash |
Later, as he often does in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus privately gives further explanation to some of the disciples. They don’t question his statement that “all will be thrown down,” but they do want to know when this will take place, and how they will know that it’s time.
Jesus gives them a long list of signs to look for - imitation leaders who only lead people astray; wars and rumors of wars; conflict, earthquakes, famines. Chapter 13 continues with other signs and predictions, all pointing to the same thing - the end is coming, even though no one is sure when, exactly, it will be.
In this passage we catch an early glimpse of our Advent themes, which are fast approaching. Wait, watch, hope, get ready. If the realization here is that the end is coming, I imagine many of us have some follow-up questions. Okay, we’ve got it - the end is coming! Now what?
The very end of today’s second reading can shed some light on that, I think. Hear again these words from Hebrews 10, beginning with verse 23: “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The end is coming - now what?
First, we hold fast to hope. Not false hope, which tries to promise that resurrection can happen without death, or that our comfort is always assured. No, the hope we cling to is in God, the one who is faithful, the one who keeps promises, the one who holds us in the midst of uncertainty and fear.
Second, we lean on one another. Facing the chaos and destruction of war, disaster, famine, and uncertainty is not meant to be done alone. As a community, the body of Christ, we support one another. We do not neglect to meet together because it is through one another that God’s love and care are shown.
When we are weary, we find rest, passing the load to others for a time. When we are despairing, we find encouragement. When we are hungry, or sick, or struggling, we find love and care. When we are bogged down in selfishness or self-pity, we are nudged to turn our gaze outward, provoked instead to love and good deeds for the sake of our neighbor.
The end is coming, it’s true. Endings always do, one way or another, welcome or not. But the broader sense of the word Jesus uses is not really “end” as the cessation of something, but rather “end” as the final goal or purpose. God’s end, God's purpose for all creation is coming - it is that day when all things will be reconciled to God; when the world is turned right side up; when tears and pain and death are no more; when division and hatred are replaced with abundant life and everlasting peace, as all people are gathered around the great heavenly feast.
As has been true for people in every time and place, it is not hard to find examples of chaos and division, destruction and disaster. In the midst of this upheaval, we cling to God’s promises, trust in God’s faithfulness, and hold fast to one another.
The end is coming. God is doing a new thing! Something new is being birthed. The process is messy, and painful, and exhausting, but the end result is life, abundant and eternal. For the new things God brings forth, and for the ones who accompany us on the journey, we give thanks.
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