Tough times are ahead
Reflection on a reading from today's Church of England Lectionary. 22 September 2021. Mark 13: 1 - 13.
Jesus realises that the net prepared by the religious leaders is closing around him and he begins to prepare his disciples for what is about to happen to him and to them. At the moment they see no sign of the impending dangers. They think that all is going well. As they leave the Temple they marvel at how magnificent it is and they must think that it will last forever. But Jesus tells them that very soon it will be razed to the ground. Is he referring to himself as well as to the Temple? He says that in future there will be wars and natural disasters, that they will be persecuted and tortured for their belief in him and for their efforts in spreading the Gospel. Jesus urges them to stand firm through it all and they will arrive with him in the kingdom.
Throughout history there have been many times when nations and peoples have thought that they were rich, powerful and invincible only to be brought low, perhaps by some unexpected event. Even in our lives and churches we have thought all is well and complacency or inertia has set in resulting in disruption or worse. We forget that when matters seem to be at their best that is the time when we must beware of a rot setting in, a friction or disagreement causing rupture of relationships.
But Jesus tells his disciples and us that if we stand firm we will survive, maybe physically, certainly spiritually. It doesn't have to be in the same place or with the same people. However, it must be while standing firm with and for Jesus.