Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?
Israel assassinates the military commander of Hamas.
The Palestinians send bombs into Tel Aviv and then Jerusalem.
Over 150 Palestinians are killed by Israeli attacks on Hamas targets.
Israel calls up 70000 reservists ready for a ground assault on Gaza.
That same day there are mass strikes and protests in Europe.
Workers and union leaders call for everyone to stop work in protest of new austerity measures.
Police and the army arrest 100s in Portugal, Spain, and Greece.
In Spain unemployment has reached 25 %.
In these same days, there is a solar eclipse.
The sky is darkened, and the sun gives of no light,
other than a bright haunting ring that blinds those who dare look at it.
Earlier in the month there is a hurricane in the east coast of the US and Cuba.
Hundreds die, hundreds of thousands are left homeless.
Those with homes have no power.
Looting takes place, there is no food in the shops, there is lawlessness.
People are scared and hungry.
When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed;
this must take place, but the end is still to come.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
Some see our time as the end times.
Some seem to gain much comfort from the fact that the period they are living in God has chosen to be the final stage of humanity.
This is where Christ will return, and all the redeemed of the earth will be raptured.
Many take comfort from the fact that those who disagree with such ideas willing fact be left behind.
These ideas started way before Jesus, as we heard from the book of Daniel earlier:
At that time Michael,
the great prince,
the protector of your people,
shall arise.
There shall be a time of anguish,
such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence.
In Daniel’s understanding, the archangel Michael will rise and protect the people of Israel.
Jesus doesn’t really talk about the end times. He talks about some things that must happen before the end times can occur.
When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed;
this must take place, but the end is still to come.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
Since Jesus time, there has rarely been a time of peace. There have been periods where there has been less conflict, or conflict on a smaller scale, but always some conflict. Our own time is one of the worst for international war.
This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
The disciples ask when the end times will occur.
Jesus answers later:
But about that day or hour no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father.
Not even Archangel Michael, who Daniel informs us, will be the precursor knows when these things are to occur.
The conflict in Gaza and Israel, the strikes and economic woes of Europe, the hurricane in the US and the solar eclipse aren’t signs of the end times. Jesus warned against predicting such things. He in fact taught the opposite:
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today's trouble is enough for today.
Be present to what is happening.
Being present and like Christ is being aware, being ready to help, noticing and acting upon injustice and suffering.
The way of Christ is to renounce all violence in the Israel and Gaza, not to take sides, to unmask the cause of the violence. It is to make sure those who are injured are healed and those who are hungry are fed.
The way of Christ is to fed, clothe and home those who have suffered through the hurricane.
It is natural to worry about the future.
We all want to know what is going to happen.
But Jesus reminds us to be present to where and when we are:
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today's trouble is enough for today.
Look at what is happening around us, not in some way to predict the future, but to be truly present to what is actually happening. Be present like Christ was present to the suffering he witnessed
It is by being present to what is occurring that we can be like Christ: helping, healing, teaching, showing the light and love of God to all we meet.
Instead of trying to work out when the end is to happen, Jesus tells us to present to the suffering and anguish that is around us, in our present time.
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.
Today's trouble is enough for today.
But about that day or hour no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father.
