the fig tree

Good afternoon friends,
Jesus continues his preview of the end by reminding his listeners to stay ready. When generation after generation passes but the end Jesus expected so soon doesn't come, it's easy to think the world is always going to keep going as it is. The truth is, we don't know when things might change dramatically. We can trust that one day God will make everything new. If we remember that there is more to life than we see, it helps us keep the everyday in perspective. When the world ends or we die it will matter a lot more how we have cared for others than the things we have.
God bless,
Sam

Luke 21:29-38
²⁹Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³²Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.


³⁴“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” ³⁷Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. ³⁸And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.

are we there yet?

Good morning sisters and brothers,
My mom sent me an article recently about Harold Camping, the Christian broadcaster who predicted rapture/judgment day dates this past year on May and October 21. Predictions about the end of the world are nothing new. The world feels crazy, (maybe it always has) and people want to know what comes next and when it will happen. In the case of our scripture passage for this morning Jesus begins the conversation by saying that the amazing buildings the disciples are gawking at will be thrown down by God's judgment. The disciples ask him about how to know when that moment will come. Jesus gives some signs, but we'll notice that he never predicts a date or even a year. The fact that God will judge the earth should remind us that we are responsible for how we use the time we've been given. At the same time we don't know when the end is coming and we are called to wait for God's timing in hope.

God bless,
Sam

Matthew 24:1-11

As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ²Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” ³When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

⁴Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. ⁵For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: ⁸all this is but the beginning of the birthpangs. ⁹“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. ¹⁰Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.