Proper 27 / Pentecost 25 / Ordinary Time 32
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him....
-- 2 Thessalonians 2:1a
The end of time or the culmination of history is always fascinating to us. Each generation has those who believe that they are living in the end times. It seems to give us a sense of importance to be there at the end. Notice the extreme popularity of the Left Behind series. Some in Paul's time had also become convinced that "the day of the Lord is already here."
Believing that it was here and that they were part of the elect apparently resulted in a life devoid of responsibility for the continuing conditions of the world. If the world was coming to an end soon, who had time or cared about changing the conditions around them? Paul cautioned them against such a belief: "For that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed...."
In an effort to hasten the end of time, people have continuously identified the "anti-Christ" with various historic figures. Instead of endless speculations about the end time, Paul tried to refocus their attention to the needs of the current moment. "... comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word." As we near the end of the church year, the scripture passages tend toward these apocalyptic images.
The temptation for the church, particularly when we are living in frightening times, is to speculate about a historical culmination of history. Paul's counterprescription was to suggest that the uneasiness and anxiety of our times is better addressed by "every good work and word." To speculate about the end time becomes a reflection of human arrogance that wants to believe we are at the center of God's work. The antidote is to reemphasize the practical living out of the faith.
-- 2 Thessalonians 2:1a
The end of time or the culmination of history is always fascinating to us. Each generation has those who believe that they are living in the end times. It seems to give us a sense of importance to be there at the end. Notice the extreme popularity of the Left Behind series. Some in Paul's time had also become convinced that "the day of the Lord is already here."
Believing that it was here and that they were part of the elect apparently resulted in a life devoid of responsibility for the continuing conditions of the world. If the world was coming to an end soon, who had time or cared about changing the conditions around them? Paul cautioned them against such a belief: "For that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed...."
In an effort to hasten the end of time, people have continuously identified the "anti-Christ" with various historic figures. Instead of endless speculations about the end time, Paul tried to refocus their attention to the needs of the current moment. "... comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word." As we near the end of the church year, the scripture passages tend toward these apocalyptic images.
The temptation for the church, particularly when we are living in frightening times, is to speculate about a historical culmination of history. Paul's counterprescription was to suggest that the uneasiness and anxiety of our times is better addressed by "every good work and word." To speculate about the end time becomes a reflection of human arrogance that wants to believe we are at the center of God's work. The antidote is to reemphasize the practical living out of the faith.
