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Gospel: Luke 21: 29-33
Jesus told his disciples a parable.
“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open,
you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
in the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that the Kingdom of God is near.
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Over the last week, we’ve heard a lot of scary sayings from Jesus in the Gospels about the end of the world; there will be earthquakes, famines, wars, and insurrections.
Christians will be led before courts and kings, but they’re not to prepare a defense beforehand. Parents will hand over children and brother will hand over sister.
It can be exhausting to think about this, which is why it’s important to remember the bigger picture.
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When considering the end of the world – and the chaos that will usher it in – think about it like a thunderstorm at night.
We’ve all been through a storm before. The lightning cracks while the rain pounds against our windows.
Once the storm passes, there’s a unique type of peace – or calm – that follows. As the sun rises, you can hear the birds chirp; the air smells fresh and feels crisp against our skin; there’s a stillness; everything else is quiet.
That’s the type of peace that God’s kingdom is bringing.
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Once good has conquered evil forever, there will be a definitive peace which no storm can quench, no spear can break, no army can conquer.
As the prophet Isaiah foretells, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not train for war against another, nor shall they train for war again.”
But, as the storm rages, we must remain vigilant – staying close to the Lord even in times of trial – for he has loved us, given himself for us, and has been raised from the dead. In time, he will come for us, too.
Come, Lord Jesus.
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Image credits: (1) DailyVerses.net (2) Dailey Lake, TripAdvisor (3) YouTube, World Christian Fellowship