Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away

 

 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near -- at the door!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.  It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.  Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch!"

 

- Mark 13:28-37 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His discourse on end times to the disciples (see Saturday's reading for the first part of His prophecy).  Jesus taught, "So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  And pray that your flight may not be in winter.  For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.  And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the christ!' or 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect.  But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven." 

 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near -- at the door!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  Let us remember that Christ's words in today's reading continue His discourse on the end times from the past two readings.  So, in this passage, when He refers to this generation, it's important that we keep in mind His words that alluded both to things which would happen in the immediate sense of history (such as the destruction of the temple and the Siege of Jerusalem) and also His prophecies about the entire age as we await His return.  My study Bible says that "this generation" refers to all believers at all times (in other words, the generation of the Church) and not only those alive at the time of Christ.  In other words, His prophecy is that the Church will continue to thrive until His return, regardless of how desperate things may sometimes appear.  

 

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.  It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.  Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch!"  My study Bible comments that, although Jesus declares that the Son does not know the day of His own return, St. John Chrysostom teaches nonetheless that this is not to be understood literally.  It is rather a figure of speech.  Its meaning is simply that Christ will not reveal the precise day to anyone, and that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Hm.  Again, we note that the focus here is not on timetables, but on preparedness day by day.  We are to take heed, watch and pray.  

 

From the beginning of the Bible with the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden and our earliest ancestors, there seems to be a history that continually repeats itself.  This is a history of God doing everything in order to bring God's creation back into embrace, into community, with God.  Human beings are even made mortal so that we may be able to repent and to return to God, and this story continues through the New Testament, where Christ comes into our world to call us into communion, and becomes one of us to draw us up with Him.  In today's reading, Jesus is emphasizing the nature of importance that we not forget who we are and what we're supposed to be about.  His repeated warnings about His return, and the judgment that will occur at that time, are not made to simply chastise, but to teach us to continue to be in communion with Him as best while can during the period of this age, in which we await His return.  We are to understand the difficulties, the "birth pangs" of this world as the age progresses, and the apocalyptic ("revealing") nature of the things we witness.  Christ calls us to "take heed, watch and pray."  So important is this message, that Jesus repeats the command to "watch" four times in today's reading.  We need to develop our discernment, and be alert to the opportunities that present themselves for doing as Christ asks of us (and also when to refrain from doing as we're not to do).  This calls for prudence and alacrity, the capacity to be aware, to study His word and the things available to us to help us to understand our faith.  Prayer is indispensable for coming closer to God, for remaining in communion and finding our way, and to enlighten our minds as to the things we need to open ourselves to, and the ways in which we might need to change and to discard what we think we know that is not good for us nor for community.  Perhaps there is a good reason we are not to know when His return is to be, so that we remain in this state of seeking how He wants us to live our lives in faith.  In short, this time of tribulations and upheavals, of "revelations" and things that may shock or surprise, is also a time of opportunity to follow Him, to abide in His word, to endure in faith and in the things Christ calls us to do and to be aware of.  Let us follow His word and remember, especially when we see the chaos of what might be revealed to us, and to seek the good order He would set us into.  Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."   In so doing, He reminds us again that this language, this discourse, is "apocalyptic" in the sense that in this time, of this age, old things are passing away to reveal the new, the fullness of which comes with His return (Revelation 21:1-2).