Loving God, you are constantly bringing forth new life, even in the midst of death and destruction.  Bring forth that new life in us this day by the power of your Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

            If this sermon had a theme song, it would probably be “It’s the End of the World as we know it” by R.E.M.  I wonder if R.E.M. had anything like a pandemic in mind when they came up with that song.  I also wonder if they intended it as a dark, foreboding kind of song or a song that might give hope.

         Some of the things that we heard in today’s gospel would have been experienced by the Jewish population in the first century as the end of the world as they knew it.  A good deal of their religious practice was centred around the Temple in Jerusalem.  Not only this, but the entire Temple system had become corrupt by the time that Jesus walked this earth.  As we heard last week, many of the religious leaders were quite well off, while most of the population consisted of poor peasants.

         At the beginning of today’s gospel, the disciples are admiring the size of the stones and the grandeur of the buildings in the Temple precinct when Jesus tells them that all of what they see will be destroyed.  This is, in fact, what happened in 70 A.D. when the Romans quashed yet another rebellion and absolutely destroyed the Jerusalem Temple.  For all those whose worship and livelihood depended on the Temple, it was, indeed, the end of the world as they knew it.

         These days, while it is not necessarily the end of the world, it is certainly feeling that way for many people.  Children and youth who are used to being at school and playing sports and having dance practices and participating in bands and choirs are suddenly at home with all of their usual activities cancelled.  Seniors who are used to being independent and going out every day are now being told by their children and grandchildren not to go anywhere.  People who are used to visiting friends and loved ones in care homes or hospitals are no longer able to do so.  It is a time of rapid change, upheaval, and adjustments to everybody’s daily routines.

         The same thing could be said of many of the things that are mentioned in today’s gospel.  Things like wars, earthquakes and famine also cause a great upheaval and change daily life for large numbers of people.  And when we think about things like the stars falling from heaven and the sun and moon being darkened, there is a similar sense of fear and foreboding.  However, the gospel is never just about gloom and doom and fear and foreboding.  In fact, there are signs of hope scattered throughout today’s gospel.

         When Jesus first mentions wars and earthquakes and famines, he also says, “This is but the beginning of the birthpangs” (Mk. 13:8).  Birth pangs, while they are a sign of pain that is still to come, are also a hopeful sign.  Nobody that I have ever talked to actually likes the process of giving birth.  However, most are overwhelmed by love and joy afterwards when they are able to hold their baby in their arms.  There is pain involved in getting there, but there is new life at the other end.

         This is true, not only for Jesus, but also for his disciples as they will endure persecution and suffering, and even death because of their faith in Jesus.  Jesus, too, will endure suffering and crucifixion before he is raised from the dead, and his suffering gives way to the joy of Easter.  The resurrection and new life that is given to all who believe simply does not happen without the suffering and death that preceded them.

         A couple of days ago, in an address to the world, Pope Francis suggested that Covid-19 is not God’s judgment, but a call to live differently.  There is much to ponder in that statement, from how we treat the environment to how we treat one another.  We could also talk about what happens when people ignore and cover up the truth, which would be a whole other conversation.  However, on a more hopeful note, perhaps this pandemic will give birth to some new practices that will end up actually giving us better connections with one another.

         At the same time, this is a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves of who is ultimately in charge.  The image in the gospel of “the Son of Man coming in clouds” is also a hopeful image (Mk. 13:26).  It is an image that comes from the prophet Daniel and that, for Christians, refers to the time when Christ will return in power and glory.  For all those who have put their faith in Jesus, this is not a frightening image, but a joyful one.  As we profess in the Apostles’ Creed, “he will come to judge the living and the dead.”  Judgment Day is not to be feared by all those who have put their trust in Jesus, and thus have already passed from death to life (Jn. 5:24).  We continue to be in God’s hands.

         Finally, we hear in today’s gospel, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mk. 13:31).  As often happens with the sayings of Jesus, this verse has its origins in the Hebrew Scriptures.  Isaiah also says that the heavens and the earth will wear out and vanish, but God says, “my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended” (Is. 51:6).

         We live in a world where most things are not permanent.  That includes buildings that can be destroyed no matter how strong they are, resources that can be exhausted, and people – who are constantly being born and living and dying in the cycle of life.  We are not eternal and the material world is not eternal, but God is.  God is eternal, and so is God’s love,

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life (Jn. 3:16).

This may be the end of the world as we know it, but God’s love for us in Christ has not changed.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Lent 5 (NL 2)                                    Mark 13:1-8, 24-37

March 29, 2020

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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