Sometimes everything seems fine. Life goes on as usual and we don’t worry too much about the future. That’s probably how the people in today’s Gospel must have felt as they admired the beauty of the Temple in Jerusalem. Admittedly, the Roman occupation was an unpleasant thing. The politicians were corrupt. And sometimes accidents happened in which people die. But the Temple stood there in all its beauty and the offerings continued without disturbance. Business as usual. No reason to worry.
Perhaps some of us find themselves today in a similar situation to the admirers of the temple in Jesus’ time. Everything seems fine. The personal circumstances are stable and well-ordered. The job is a little boring, but it gives structure to life and one earns enough money. And on Sundays, one goes to church and enjoys the beautiful liturgy. Business as usual. No reason to worry.
Jesus pulls us out of our supposed security. He announces the complete destruction of the temple. And he speaks of other terrible things that will happen in the future: wars, riots, earthquakes, famines, pestilences. And brutal persecution of those who believe in him as the Son of God and Saviour.
We should remind ourselves that for many people around the world all this is already a harsh reality. Many of us have family and friends in countries ravaged by natural disasters, where violence and chaos reign, and where Christians are brutally persecuted. And even our individual lives here in Stockholm are anything but guaranteed to be safe. The truth is: We could die suddenly and violently while waiting for the bus. Let us pray for all those who lost their lives in Friday’s accident, and for their families!
If we live in a false sense of security, it can be spiritually helpful to be awakened from it. Our earthly lives are constantly in danger. Nobody knows how the political situation in Europe will develop. A major war could be imminent. And it may happen that in the future Christians will be persecuted even here. The uncertainty in which we live is not imaginary, it is real.
How should we respond to this? Should we panic? Should we collect food stocks? Should we give up our jobs and instead just fast and pray each day? Should we look out for a strong political leader? Should we train for the coming battle with the enemies of Christianity? Should we do this only intellectually or perhaps even with weapons?
Uncertainty and fear lead some people to come up with very strange ideas… Jesus has other advice for us: ‘See that you are not led astray!’ Do not follow those who claim to be your saviours! Do not go after those who say that the time of doom is already upon us! Do not be terrified!
Jesus does not say that nothing bad will happen in the future. Instead, he says that we should keep calm, no matter what happens. We should keep a calm and peaceful heart, while following the events with attention and try to understand their meaning.
There is no need for a training camp to prepare for battle: ‘Settle it in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,’ says Jesus. When the time comes, it will not be us who have to defend ourselves with our own strength and intellect. It is Christ himself who fights for us. He will ‘give us a mouth and wisdom, which none of our adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.’
What Jesus asks of us is to remain steadfast: ‘By your endurance you will gain your lives.’ Remaining steadfast means standing firm in faith in Christ, come what may. Believing firmly that he has redeemed us and will lead everything to good. And never allowing ourselves to be separated from him.
If we have this endurance in faith, there is nothing more we need to do. We are already prepared for all the things to come and even for the end of the world. And we can devote ourselves fully to what God has entrusted to us in our concrete lives here and now.
Apostle Paul warns those who ‘walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.’ And he ‘commands and encourages them in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and earn their own living.’
My quiet and perhaps, at first glance, somewhat boring life could be exactly what God wants from me here and now. If God has given me the gift of having a good employment, then I should thank Him for it. And I should use it to support others and give them hope.
Providing for a family and raising children in the faith is a very important contribution to God’s kingdom. Those who live this way, with a watchful eye on the events in the world, but with a heart that rests quietly in Christ, give a strong testimony of faith. They help the Lord to take away the fear from his people and to strengthen them with supernatural hope. They know that on the last day the sun of righteousness will rise and heal all wounds.
Lord, grant us endurance in faith and let us remain faithful in Your service!
Amen.
