“On the alert”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Luke 21: 29-38 (Forward, p. 42) CEV p. 1092
I’m afraid that we have somewhat confusing—and seemingly—contradictory advice here. On the one hand, Jesus tells His followers to be aware, to watch for the signs of the times. He says, rather pointedly, that when they see ‘these things happening’, they will know that God’s kingdom will soon be here (verse 31). But then, ‘in the next breath’, He says that ‘the final day’ will surprise everyone on earth (verse 35b). He intimates that it will be sudden and unexpected—like a trap. So, how can this be?
I think that the clue, the answer, comes in verse 34. People may well be aware, alert, to the signs of the times, but then preoccupied with other things. (Here He mentions thinking about eating or drinking or worrying about life.) I know that this kind of thing has certainly happened to me. I have been engrossed in a conversation while driving and have arrived at my destination without my even being aware of the miles covered or the time expended.
And so, we are to be alert, focused on what is important in life, and not on all these other things. We are to watch, and pray, with two things in mind: to escape the coming tribulation and to find that we have pleased God in Christ Jesus. I’m not sure just what we can do with regards to the latter—other than pray—but I think that most of us can think of how we might please God.
Forward notes: “The worries of this life” (verse 34b).
“There is so much for us to worry about: destruction, despair, and desolation caused by war, famine, and human greed. We live with political division and desperation in our communities. We have every right to be alarmed and afraid. But God calls us, even in the midst of things passing away, to hold tightly to hope.
“There is a fun story of an overly optimistic boy who wakes up on his birthday to find a pile of manure outside his bedroom window. He runs downstairs with a smile on his face, grabs a shovel, and starts whistling and digging. One of his friends asks, ‘What are you doing?’ The boy looks up and says, ‘I’m sure there’s a pony in here somewhere!’
“Sometimes, underneath the manure is more manure— and sometimes, there is a pony. But Jesus’s incarnation reminds us not to worry. There will always be wars and rumors of wars and tremors that will shake the foundations of the world and our faith in humanity. There will be death and disaster and all manner of things in this life to rattle our souls. But in Jesus, there will always be hope, no matter how faint or fleeting.”
Moving Forward: “Read and pray on this passage from Luke.”