But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly

 

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 

 

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 

- Luke 21:29-36 

 

On Saturday, Jesus continued His discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem (and the temple) and the end times to His disciples:   "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear  and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 

  Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."   We perhaps can take a double meaning to the phrase this generation.  The events of the destruction of the temple and the Siege of Jerusalem would come within one generation of the time that Jesus was speaking these words. But, perhaps more significantly, Jesus is giving a warning to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church (as my study Bible puts it), and not only to those alive at the time of Christ.

 

 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."   Jesus' emphasis, in all the warnings we have reported in the Gospels, is on the unknown time of His return, which will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.   His emphasis is repeatedly upon our own watchfulness, our understanding of the things we are to be about as His followers, and an awareness of the judgment to come at His return.

 

Jesus says, in His final words of warning in St. Luke's Gospel, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly."  We might think there's an exaggeration here, that such behaviors as He warns about would not apply to His disciples (carousing, drunkenness).  But note that He is speaking not of some terribly flagrant sins or extreme behavior.  Jesus is warning us of things that weigh down our hearts.  We need to consider carefully His words here, for He's not just speaking of violations of some code against sinning.  He's speaking of things we do in our lives that might seem good, or divert us to some kind of pleasure, or even the necessary things of this world with which we must concern ourselves.  He's talking about being burdened with things that are, in fact, not necessary to ourselves and should not be the focus of our lives, should not divert us from the life in the Kingdom we are meant to live and to pursue as the center of our lives.  The things that weigh us down are unnecessary burdens, even things we might think we need, but we don't.  It's important to note that He places the cares of this life in the same category of weighing down our hearts with carousing and drunkenness.  Are we over-consumed with worry about what we look like, what we'll wear, what house we have?  Do we think all the time about our work lives, or even what college our kids will get into?  While all of these things may be necessary, they are not all good to focus on with the kind of all-consuming intensity they can take on.  This is because, like carousing and drunkenness, they become diversions from the things which are really and truly important in Jesus' perspective, that involve the care of our soul.  For what is salvation?  Is it getting the best house, or keeping our reputation in the society?  Is it making sure we put on a good show, or obsessing over having "perfect" lives according to someone's image or theory they've put before us? (See Luke 12:22-34.)   The primary importance of the time of our lives, in Christ's view, is the life of the Kingdom that He has for us.  That is, living prayerfully, and always aware of where we are at, what we are dealing with, what choices we're making, and mindful of His return and living so as to be prepared for that.  Do we love those whom we need to love?  How are we judging ourselves and others?  Are we spreading false values we don't really believe in?  Most of all, are we caring for our hearts?  How do we relieve ourselves of the burdens that weigh us down, and find Christ's help to do so?  Are we aware of the spiritual life that permeates our world and our part in participating in that?  These are things that are weightier and far more important matters to concern ourselves with according to Christ and His teachings.  Do we remember who we are?  Do we remember God?  Do we cherish the gifts we're given by God?  What do we do with them?  All of these things matter to Christ, and not the things that would distract us from living the fullness of that life, our awareness of His Kingdom that lives in and through us, and the care and love of neighbor as ourselves.  Let us be consumed with love for Him and for the life He offers and invites us to live instead.  For this is truly the "work" He has for us to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." 

 

- Luke 21:29–36 

 

On Saturday, we read that Jesus taught:  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away by captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts filing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." 

 

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  My study Bible comments that this generation refers to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church -- and not only to those alive at the time of Christ.  

 

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  Here in Luke's Gospel, the emphasis is on preparedness for this time.  We're not given any information that would lead us to make a timetable or predict exactly when this will occur.  Let us note that Jesus emphasizes the surprising nature of this prophesy, that the Day of His return will come as a snare on all those who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.  The emphasis is on preparedness, with the admonition to watch and to pray always, keeping in mind His words and this teaching, that we may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man in judgment.

Jesus says, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly."  These words echo an element in the parable of the Sower.  When Jesus explains to the disciples the meaning of the parable, He says the following interpretation regarding the seeds that fell among thorns:  "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity" (Luke 8:4).  This is especially emphasized here as those things that lead to heedlessness of the reality of Christ's promise to return, and the judgment of that Day.  It speaks of how easily we are distracted from the spiritual reality of our lives, our own easy capacity for forgetfulness in the midst of life.  We won't be given obvious reminders; we have already been given Christ, the prophets, the saints, the Scriptures, and all the ongoing work of the Church.  But these warnings found twice in the Gospels emphasize how easily our attention is led astray, how simple it is for us to be diverted from this reality and His teachings through the cares, riches, and pleasures of life.  These pursuits and distractions, in Jesus' word, weigh our hearts down, seeming to imply that we don't have the energy to "look up" or that their effect is to deprive us of the capacity to think beyond a purely earthly life.  These words also suggest to us the importance of time, and that we consider the preciousness of the time of our lives.  Repeatedly Christ's parables will suggest this to us, such as in the parable of the Lost Son.  When the prodigal realizes the horrible state in which he finds himself, Jesus says that "he came to himself" (Luke 15:17).  In other words, his straying from the home of his father has taken him away from who he truly is, his true place -- such is the power of the distractions we have in life, when our hearts are weighed down with the cares, riches, and pleasures of life.  There is a pernicious suggestion that returns over and over again in modern life, that the only way to "find ourselves" is by getting lost in what some might enviously think are the privileges of others, where the grass seems to be greener.  In a classical political and social context, the phrase "bread and circuses" might also apply here.  That is, the things afforded by wealth (even great wealth), including all the cares and pleasures that come with riches, or a life of pure indulgence in whatever takes our fancies, or seems to promise to take away pain rather than dealing with it more effectively.  Today we have many ways to be "drunken," we have many sources for "carousing," and an infinite number of cares that seem to plague life in pursuit of such.  Let us understand our own nature and take it seriously that Christ has said that "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38).  For our lives, as He has said, are more than this, we're meant for what is better and higher for us -- and while we might be distracted with amusements, or the pursuit of what we think is good, this is not the whole of life.  We are meant for meaning, and the wholeness of life includes our spiritual nature, not separate from our earthly bodies but a part of us.  Our well-being depends upon it.  Let us understand why it is necessary that we watch and pray, and we remember God in the ways that we can.  Jesus says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).  So much depends upon where our attention is, how we use our time, and what comes first.  Finally, let us consider the weight of these words:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  What He promises and teaches here is that His words will supersede all things.  Whatever we put our faith into, and time, and effort, in His word we will find even a new heaven and a new earth.  Let us stand and remember what He teaches.

 

 

But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly

 

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you will see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

 

- Luke 21:29-38 

 

Yesterday we read Jesus' continuation of His prophecy on end times and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple:  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." 

 

Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you will see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  Jesus gives the image of a fig tree, and all the trees, as a metaphor for how we are to look at our world.  When we see things beginning to bud, we know that summer -- meaning the time of fruit -- is near.  So when we observe these things about our world, we are to know that the kingdom of God is near.  The words this generation make it clear that those among His disciples would see the terrible destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple in their lifetimes, and the things He describes as end times would begin soon after His Ascension, including, conflict and persecution.  That heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away is a solemn assertion of His promise.  St. Cyprian of Carthage, in the 3rd century, noting the wars, natural disasters, and increasing adversity already evident in his time, wrote, "Since the things that were foretold are happening, whatever he promises will also follow. The Lord himself promises, 'When you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand.' The kingdom of God, beloved brothers and sisters, has drawn near. The reward of life, the joy of eternal salvation, the perpetual happiness and the possession of paradise once lost are now coming as the world passes away."

 

 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him."  Finally, we're given a warning.  It's quite similar to the parable of the Sower, in that He teaches us we can be so distracted by the things of the world that we're unprepared for His return, that Day.  In the parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15), Jesus taught that some seed (meaning the word of God) "fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it."  He later explained to the disciples that "the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity."  This is what He warns us of when He speaks about the surprise of that Day coming as a snare.  Our own forgetfulness in pleasures, evasion of life, and immersion by the cares of this life can keep us from remembering His word and keeping it, and producing the spiritual fruits He asks of us.

It's so interesting to consider Jesus' repeated metaphors about gardening or agriculture, the natural world of growth and produce.  They produce so many images for us to consider about how we live our lives.  In today's reading, He speaks of the fig tree as an image through which we might view the world.  If we look at the natural world and how things grow, that they first produce flowers, and then later the fruits of summer, we may contemplate Christ's words about the buds on the fig tree.  That is, the tiny beginnings of flowers, indicating the hints about the things He describes about the end times:  persecutions, strife, adversity, conflict, plagues, and natural disasters of many kinds.  These are the "buds" that should remind us of what comes with the full fruits, and then in particular, at the harvest.  The harvest to come we may easily see as the final judgment that will accompany His return, "the Day" as He phrases it.  In Jesus' teaching here, it is those "buds" that are meant to remind us of the harvest, of what is coming, so that we are prepared for it for ourselves.  How do we do that preparation?  What is it that the buds are meant to remind us to be about?  What work is it that we're supposed to be doing, instead of being occupied with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life?  Jesus indicates here that being one of His followers is not something we decide one day and then forget about while we get on with life.  He suggests that it is, in fact, the cares of life, and our ways of avoiding them in one form or another, that can stand in the way of living the life He asks us to.  We can become forgetful of what it is that He asks us to be doing instead, how we are to live our lives.  If each "bud" of the things He describes should remind us of what we are to be about, what might be the best way to bring back true mindfulness that He asks of us?  As we observed in yesterday's reading and commentary, St. Paul seems to address such issues in his Letter to the Thessalonians.   He refers to the Day that comes like a snare; or as Jesus has described His return elsewhere, like a thief in the night.  He speaks of remembrance and watchfulness, telling them, "You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation."   In what is perhaps the best advice for what we can do to practice mindfulness, he writes, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (see 1 Thessalonians 5).  There are so many ways to forget who we are as followers of Christ, to lose ourselves in the world, in drunkenness or other forms of intoxication, or being overwhelmed with the cares of life, or simply avoiding life in a figurative sleep of forgetfulness.  But we're meant to be awake to the reality of the truth that informs and inspires, alert to the reality of the world Jesus opens to our eyes, and also to the ways in which we can follow and practice His teachings.  Let us remember St. Paul's advice for coming to remembrance, and know that the kingdom of God is near.

 

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man

 

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

 

- Luke 21:29–36 

 

On Saturday, we read that Jesus taught His followers regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and also about the end times:  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." 

Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  This generation seems to have a double meaning here.  Not only will the destruction of Jerusalem happen within a generation, but all these things refers to the generation of all believers at all times -- the generation of the Church, and not only those alive at the time of Christ.  Christ gives a solemn assurance of His prophecy:  My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  Jesus warns that our real need throughout this time as believers await His return is to be sober, to be aware of who we are and what our faith is.  That this Day will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth is a vivid image teaching us about the unpredictability of dates and times, and the easy way we slip into forgetfulness of who we are.  

Origen has an interesting commentary on drunkenness, which Christ warns about.  He states that drunkenness is destructive in all things:  it weakens both soul and body together.  There are times when the body is weak, and the spirit grows stronger.  Even through illness, we see spiritual growth and a closer experience of faith in the interior life.  But with drunkenness this is not the case, and so it would seem regarding the other things Christ warns about:  carousing and cares of this life.  So with all three, body and soul are together diminished, destroyed, ground down.  We lose sight of what is important, and must draw ourselves away from these things in order to focus on what is good for us, and healing.  Let's note that each of these can be a kind of escape from life, often starting out as a way to avoid the deeper things that may be hard to fathom and to cope with -- but the end of each road is no longer an escape but another kind of deeper prison, even a desolate place.  Origen writes of drunkenness:  "Forgetfulness covers the mind so that one does not know oneself nor perceive he is a person."  Origen wrote in the early third century, before the time of modern pharmaceuticals and the kinds of epidemics of drugs that we know today.  But let's take seriously what he says about drunkenness to illuminate what happens to a person who seeks escape from these deeper struggles of life through whatever means is available.  For Christ, even "the cares of this life" form such overwhelming substance, as we see also illustrated in the parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15), when Jesus illustrates those who are "choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life" as the seed that fell among thorns.  Today we have other modern day distractions which may also serve to dissipate our lives and distract us from what is essential, but it's important to note the overwhelming nature of things that were common to human beings then and now, and Origen's comment about the dissipation of both the spirit and the body.  Let us not be lost in things that take us away from our spiritual lives, and give us only an immediate escape into forgetfulness or a type of obsession with something else.  It's a powerful thought to recognize how easy it is to lose ourselves in things that seem good but are dead ends in and of themselves.  Possibly the greatest power we have to put us in mind of the things that "bring us back to ourselves" is prayer and worship -- all the things that we can do to connect ourselves back to God, even for a brief period, even as we take just a bit of time from whatever we are doing in our lives.  Let us understand our dependence upon God, and that place where we truly remember who we are in God's love.  With Jesus' warnings, we are clearly to understand that this is true even in the midst of tribulations -- and that He is always with us even so, as we await His return with power and great glory.  Jesus teaches us that we are to "watch" and "pray always."  Let us take Him at His word, which will not pass away.

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  

- Luke 21:29-36

In our current readings, Jesus has been teaching in the temple in Jerusalem.  He has been in disputes with the leadership, being tested by those who seek to trap Him.  He began to give a warning prophesy to His disciples about the destruction of the temple that was to come a generation after His Passion (see Friday's reading).  On Saturday, we read that He taught them, "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectations of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."   This generation seems to have a double meaning.  The events of the destruction of the temple and the Siege of Jerusalem will come to pass within a generation; but this generation also refers to all believers at all times, my study bible explains.  It is the generation of the Church, and not only those alive at the time of Christ.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  Here is the warning that the Day of His return will come unexpectedly, and as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  The bywords of all of the accounts of Christ's prophecy of end times and of His second coming are watch and pray.  In this case, He tells us to pray always.  This is our disposition as followers of Christ, to be alert and awake to the spiritual realities of our lives, and to pray always in awareness and preparation for standing before Him.

I have had the experience of being responsible for the care of an elderly parent, who went through a long illness over several years.  Admitted to a hospital for care when her doctor was unavailable to check on her growing weakness, first an extreme crisis suddenly emerged to put her in ICU, which was resolved only with the help of a courageous battle-experienced surgeon.  But nevertheless, later life and death decisions had to be continually made as she remained in the hospital over a period of a few weeks.  Particularly in those times of judging whether additional care and treatments would be detrimental to her true well-being and wishes, and then determining the best possible help for her as she was in the final stages before dying, constant prayer was indispensable to this process.  Thankfully she passed very peacefully.  Christ's words to watch and pray always were the most worthy advice during that time of terrible stress and pressured decisions, where a renewed spirit from prayer was the only strength that made it possible to face each new decision with energy, courage, and resourcefulness.  Not only is it necessary, under such circumstances, to consult as fully as possible with expert opinion one may trust (that is, to seek and find good expert care), including good pastoral care, but also to make the decisions that only the party responsible for another's life and well-being can make.  Christ teaches His disciples in today's reading about the end times.  It is His final word both on the terrible devastation that is to come to Jerusalem and the people of Israel, and also on the time of the end and His return.  The times that He describes are times of terrible strain, facing death and calamity on a scale that is unimaginable to any of us if we have not lived through such fears and frightful experience of war, disaster, and death.  But death comes into our world nevertheless and affects our lives in various ways.  The times that Jesus describes are the most terrifying possible, but each of us in our own lives may also experience the stress of making choices for loved ones in times of deep strain on self and family relations.  During that time, as well as other times of extreme personal challenge, we must never neglect Christ's words and teachings about watchfulness and constant prayer.  This is the way to renew spirit and heart, to find the internal resources for the vigilance necessary to go through the strain that death brings to all concerned.  Such times may bring out the best and the worst of circumstances and of people involved, from professional caregivers to family members and friends.  But one friend we can count on is the One who gives the advice to remain watchful and to pray constantly.  There are prayers of the Church for every occasion, for times throughout the day, for prayers to saints and to the Virgin Mary. We may all consult our pastors and our fellow faithful for help in praying for us and with us.  But there is nothing that compares to personal commitment to prayer for keeping our strength and vigilance in times that draw out every strength we have, and touch the deepest wells of character and confidence and faith in order to cope with what is asked of us.  When Jesus warns us not to let our hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, He is speaking of the importance of being alert to His message and the state of our souls at all times.  None of these things must take us away from what is truly needful:  the care of spirit and soul in His love and faith and mindfulness of how we are to be living.  We seem to have two choices:  either we are going to "check out" and be blind to what is presented to us and is needful, or we are going to step up to the plate with prayer and watchfulness as our true help in life.  What He teaches us bears out its truth in times of deep trouble -- but He calls on us to remember God even when everything seems routine, during the ins and outs of life, through the good and through the bad and all that comes between.  He warns us that the Day will come as a snare, but then again, there is so much in life that also may come as a snare.  Let us be aware of the things we always need, and the depth of life He asks us to truly live, the place of prayer in which we are to dwell.

Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth

 Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

- Luke 21:29-36

On Saturday, we read Jesus' continuing discourse about the events to come in Jerusalem, and His second coming:   "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Then He spoke to them a parable:  "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.  So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  While it is quite literally true that the generation of those to whom He was directly addressing would see the destruction of Jerusalem, His discourse includes events of His return, or second coming.  Therefore this generation actually refers to all believers at all times; that is, the generation of the Church, and not merely those alive at the time of Christ.  Furthermore, the age initiated continues, and will end only upon His return.  Therefore, all events discussed are tied to one another.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."  And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.  Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.  Here is one assurance Jesus gives us:  that when He does return, that Day will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  That is, only those truly watchful and wakeful will be expecting it at all.  But total involvement with the worldly weighs us down, we forget our spiritual senses, a life of prayer.   He warns of hearts weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and care of this life, giving us a picture of the things we do to divert ourselves, and the overwhelming concerns possible when we forget to make space for God in our daily life, a healthy detachment that puts life into a wider perspective than what the world offers to us.

For Jesus to say that His second coming will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth is quite an astounding statement indeed.  It implies that the world is full of things that will distract us from our purpose, and our own true good in life.  As Jesus puts it, there are things in life that may burden our hearts, weigh them down, to the point that we are no longer alert and awake to the things He teaches us about, to the reality we are to always keep in mind.  A snare is a trap, something that catches an animal unawares when it is being hunted (particularly used for birds).  The implication here is that by ignoring the things He calls us to be aware of, we may lose our true liberty, our freedom -- becoming subject to that which enslaves and captures.  How does this happen?  His implications of that are clear too:  the cares of the world, and the things that we chase as diversion or immediate pleasures, whatever it is that may serve to distract us from true purpose, and in particular a life of prayer so that we are awake to the things He would have us be mindful of in life.  A snare set for a bird gives us a sense that God calls us to a kind of watchfulness we need for our own good, for our survival, for the assurance of our own independence and liberty.  It gives us a picture of evil or sin as that which robs us of something -- a trick that offers what sounds good but has as its end a denial of our greatest good, our true place.  In this context, the one thing necessary becomes a focus on the place where all that is good comes from, the love of God from which every perfect gift comes.  It is in that love that we wish to abide and have our lives, so that we are aware of who we are and what we need to be about, and we can live a life of true health -- that which is truly good for us.  We are vulnerable human beings, and we live in a state where it is easy to lose sight of the fact of our limitations, our need for direction and guidance, a constant sustenance in the face of that which is adverse to us -- even to be aware that there is a type of adversity which may catch us unaware.  This is where we acknowledge our dependence on God, our true need for humility as a way to stay focused and real.  But it is also where we acknowledge our deep need for love, in a world that doesn't always give what it seems to be offering.