When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, "I will return to my house from which I came"

 

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke, and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  

 

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.  

 

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.  He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

 

"When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'  And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

 

- Luke 11:14–26 

 

On Saturday we read that it came to pass, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  So he said to them, "When you pray, say:  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?  I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

 

  And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute.  So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke, and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."  Beelzebub is the name given to a Canaanite pagan god by the Jews.  This name of this god worshiped at a particular shrine was a derivation of the word Baal; but Baal was worshiped at many shrines and so each had a particular name.  In this case it was Baal-Zebul, meaning "Lord of the Exalted Dwelling" (see 2 Kings 1).  But the name used by the Jews is satire; it sounds alike but means "Lord of the Flies" or "Lord of the Dungheap."  Here it is used as a direct reference to Satan.  

 

 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.  According to the Orthodox Study Bible (OSB), a sign is never given to those whose motive is merely to test God (see Luke 4:9-12).  

 

 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them:  "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.  If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?  Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.  And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?  Therefore they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."  The finger of God is the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28).  

 

 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.  But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils."  The OSB comments that the strong man is Satan, who holds sway over the fallen human race, while the stronger is Christ (see 1 John 4:4).  

 

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."  It is the work of Christ to gather the children of God, while those who scatter are in direct opposition to Him, the OSB notes.  Those who work in opposition to Christ, it says, are different from those who work in good faith toward His purpose but are not yet united to the Church (Luke 9:46-50).  According to St. Seraphim of Sarov, Only "good deeds done for Christ's sake bring fruit," and therefore deeds done for any other purpose, "even if they are good, are deeds that scatter abroad."

 

 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'  And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."  Here the OSB cites the commentary of St. John Chrysostom, who comments that the unclean spirit refers to the rebelliousness cast out of the Jews by the Old Testament prophets to prepare them to receive Christ.  Those who refuse to receive Him are left open to the wickedness of seven other spirits or demons.  Seven is a number of fullness, and it indicates completeness; thus giving over oneself to darkness.  In another interpretation, this statement can also be understood to emphasize that even after successful deliverance or exorcism, vigilance and continued dedication to Christ is necessary, otherwise "the last state of that man is worse than the first."

 

 Jesus' final statement in today's reading is a reminder that nothing stands still.  We, as human beings, are creatures of time, and so life as we live it is a journey.  We are in constant movement, and the same is true of the soul and the choices we are always faced with.  Christ's call to us is one that asks for active faith.  When we receive God's grace, it is not like a material possession, but is rather a gift of God's divine energy which changes us and needs our constant cooperation in response.  We are meant for change, and this is the nature of repentance, or "change of mind" as the Greek word μετάνοια/metanoia literally means.  We are on a road, Christ's way (the Greek word ὁδός/odos, meaning path or road in John 14:6).  Consequently, a refusal of that grace working in us, or lack of cooperation with it, does not simply result in a static state of being, but one that, in fact, moves in the opposite direction.  Christ's teaching suggests that inner emptiness works as an open door to more trouble and demonic activity without healing grace. Christ's grace, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, is meant to be active in us, and is ultimately creative and dynamic.  Our faith is meant to grow and to bear fruit.  A well-known psychologist once said to me, "You're either going in the right direction or the wrong direction," indicating the same point, that we are always on a journey somewhere.  For the Christian, that journey is toward union with Christ (called theosis), or we are moving in another direction away.  Jesus' image of the cleaned and swept house  indicates a state of vacancy.  Hence we need to be vigilant about whom we let in, and protect against what we do not want.  We need to take care that our souls are fed with the things of God, and the energies of God.  The kind of emptiness that exists in a vacuum where the substance of virtue (or even the desire for it) is absent constitutes a depth of nihilism that invites evil.  The persona of Satan in the title of the demonic god Beelzebub is evoked in that emptiness as one who will take advantage, and come to stay and claim the house for himself.  That Jesus tells us the unclean spirit finds no rest, and seeks to return back to the place from which he was evicted gives us an idea of the movement of evil.  It's always aggressive, and parasitical, and will seek to return.  Let us be ready with the full armor of God.

 

 

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 

- Matthew 24:45-51

In our current readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem, and it is what we know as Holy Week, the final week of Jesus' earthly life.  In yesterday's reading, He continued His prophesy of the destruction of the temple and war in Jerusalem, but also of the end times and His return.  After giving His warnings and prophecy of what is to come, He taught them, "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 all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!  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 of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill:  one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his   goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Jesus gives us a parable to explain the circumstances of the time period we are in, while we await His return or Second Coming.  We're to be the good servants who, in the absence of the Master, remember and follow His commands, taking care of His household and all of those in it.  It's interesting to see that, as Jesus is speaking to His disciples, He explains the circumstances in terms of leadership:  those who would be great in His home, and become ruler over all his goods.   Those who fail to follow His commands which require that we care for one another in the ways that He has taught are those who will be cast out when the Master returns.

It's very interesting that Jesus' parable is given in terms of appropriate leadership and responsibilities among those who are His servants.  It is designed to teach us what we are to be about, and to explain our own positions as His followers.  Are we going to be loyal and faithful?  In this context, faithfulness is not about belief, but the willingness to follow His commandments.  That is, our capacity to have faith in Him and thereby His teachings and His commands for our behavior as those who love Him and are loyal to Him.  In Jesus' parable, we are given the image He wants us to have of faithfulness.  Are His commands sacred to us?  He is the head of the household, and as His true servants, we do as He teaches, as He wants His household to be run.  It is all about how deep our loyalty and trust goes, and how devoted we can be in His service.  We are to care for one another, and not to treat one another badly.  His specific example here is of the faithful and wise servant . . . made ruler over the household, to give them food in due season.   What does it mean to give food to the household?  With what do we nourish one another, in His word?  Jesus' example of the evil servant is the one who tells himself, "My master is delaying in his coming," and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards.  Those who defy His commands are negligent, abusive, and destructive, entirely forgetful of what makes for a good life and a good rule in His household.  So where are we on that scale?  The good news is that when we come to ourselves (like the Prodigal Son), we recall what we are to be about, we can resume our efforts in His service, repenting of our failures.

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken

 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down 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 or on the Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

- Matthew 24:15-31

In our current readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem, and it is Holy Week.  He has made His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, cleansed the temple, and engaged in confrontation, questioning, and testing by the various parties of the  leadership, with His own challenging responses.  (See the readings from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.)   Still in the temple, Jesus' then made His final public sermon, an indictment of hypocritical practices of the leadership, ending with a lament over Jerusalem (see readings of Monday,  Tuesday and Wednesday).   Yesterday, we read that then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.  And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things?  Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."  Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be?  And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"  And Jesus answered and said to them:  "Take heed that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows.  Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down 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!"  Jesus refers to the prophecy of Daniel of the abomination of desolation (see Daniel 11:31, 12:11; also Daniel's vision at 9:21-27).  This was fulfilled in AD 70, during the Siege of Jerusalem, when the Roman General Titus entered the Most Holy Place and had a statue of himself erected in the temple, and later had the temple destroyed.  My study bible tells us that the phrase when you see indicates that many of the disciples would still be living at this time.  My study bible also says that the parenthetical statement whoever reads, let him understand is commonly understood to be inserted by Matthew as encouragement to the early Christian flock, who may have witnessed this event.  Again Jesus uses vivid imagery to portray the urgency with which people must evacuate the city to avoid perishing in its destruction.

"And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened."  My study bible says that the severity in winter weather or respect for the Sabbath would prevent many faithful from fleeing quickly at a time of desperation.  It also notes a spiritual interpretation that has been given for this passage:  the Sabbath may symbolize idleness with regard to virtue, and winter can symbolize fruitlessness with regard to charity.  A person departing earthly life in such a spiritual state will suffer judgment.  It is noteworthy that here there are mingled elements of both end times and the destruction of Jerusalem.  Tribulation, for example, is not limited to only the time of the destruction of the temple, but rather is a condition of the age.

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together."  Jesus warns against false reports of His return, and that false christs and false prophets will arise (as did happen after His death).  But this is mingled with talk of His return, which will be evident to all people.  My study bible says that if there is any question or doubt, then that alone is evidence that He has not returned.   The last statement here is a puzzling one, but one interpretation is that the body refers to Christ, while the eagles refer to the angels and the saints. 

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."  Commentary by Church Fathers holds that the glory of Christ will be so bright that by comparison the sun appears darkened.  My study bible says that the sign of the Son of Man is the Cross, revealed as the standard for Christ's impending judgment.  In His first coming, the Incarnation, Christ came in humility and mortality, as a human being subject to the influences of the world.  But at His second coming, He will be revealed in power and great glory.  What is perhaps most striking is that all His elect will be gathered together, from one end of heaven to the other.

We await Jesus' return at the end of the age, but there is no real timetable for us.  We don't know when that is going to be.  From the way Jesus teaches His disciples, the word that He gives to us, we are not supposed to know that time.  As the world changes, we look around ourselves and wonder if the signs He's given are happening before us.  Certainly we can see a globalized world, with instantaneous telecommunications and information that gives us news from everywhere, and all the time, 24 hours a day.  It's a "networked" world, where events that happen in one place are bound to have effects on another, perhaps around the world.  Economic crises can become worldwide, to one extent and another, because of a crisis in one country that will in turn affect exchange rates and currencies and stock markets elsewhere.  We live in a time of continental shifts in terms of migration and warfare and populations that are no longer reflecting traditional demographics and communities.  And there are wars and rumors of war, and it seems that the love of many has grown cold.  In other ways, it seems that lawlessness abounds.  These are all signs of this age that Jesus has described.  In today's reading, Jesus gives the signs in Jerusalem -- and a clear warning about what is to come and when -- to His disciples.  The events of the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem were, in a sense, "inaugural" events of the end time; that is, the time in which we live  now and have been living since His death and Resurrection.  It is the time in which we await His return.  We are witnesses to His prophesies, and from what we see, He surely was correct.  But the crucial thing we need to cling to, as those who will endure to the end, as He has taught, are His teachings for us.  That is, the ways in which He has taught us to endure, following His commandments, knowing His love, living as His friends, followers, brothers and sisters, children.  That's where we find our true home and our identity, the one thing we know is true if all else fails and leads us wrong.  In a time of darkness, the light just becomes that much more important.  Like the time of His return, it's His truth and glory that outshine everything else as the one thing necessary.  Let us remember and live and put our trust where it belongs.

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

 "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 all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!  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 of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill:  one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

- Matthew 24:32-44

Yesterday, Jesus continued His talk to His disciples on the future in Jerusalem and of His Second Coming.  He began this talk as He walked out of the temple with His disciples (see All these are the beginning of sorrows).  In yesterday's reading, He said to them, ""Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down 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 or on the Sabbath.  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.  For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.  Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."


 "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 all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!  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."  My study bible says that the words this generation "probably refers to the new race of Christians.  The end is always near, just ahead of us."

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill:  one will be taken and the other left."   My study bible tells us:  "The unexpected suddenness of Christ's coming will catch people unaware and engaged in earthly pursuits, just as in the days of Noah."  Jesus' quite vivid imagery here suggests that the text conveys a great emphasis on our "unpreparedness" for this day, and the sudden nature of this moment.  It is up to us, who have this warning, to be prepared in the ways He teaches.  We note also the emphasis on the unknown chronology, only "His Father in heaven" knows.

"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."  Here, my study bible says, "The Lord's purpose in this discourse is not to make the disciples 'experts in prophecy.'  It is rather that they may watch and be ready, continually engaged in virtuous action, obeying His commandments -- remembering that we cannot know the time of His coming.  These warnings are illustrated by the parable of the householder and the thief, and three longer parables which follow (24:45-25:30).  They urge us to (1) watchfulness, (2) faithful responsibility, (3) preparedness, and (4) use of our spiritual gifts."  For the rest of the discourse, lectionary readings over the next several days will give us the rest of the verses noted here.

I think it's important that we keep in mind that Jesus is preparing His disciples here for what is to come after He is gone -- after His suffering, death on the Cross, Resurrection and Ascension.  How will the Church struggle to survive?  What is to be the attitude of these early Christians after He is gone, and as they seek to evangelize and build their churches, spreading His gospel of the kingdom to all the world?  It's important that we understand that the attitude He is conveying here for these disciples is the one that He gives us as His departure is prepared, as He is paving the way for His exodus from Jerusalem.  This "departure" speech (if we can think of it in this context) is therefore a kind of preparation for the rest of the Church as it awaits His Return.  In other words, it's a preparation to teach us who are of this Church how we are to set our faces toward the East (so to speak) and await in preparedness for His return.  The vivid illustration of people at work in every day tasks, and the element of surprise and suddenness teach us about the essential reminders we must give ourselves that the Master will return at any moment, and we just don't know when that is.  Not only do we have no idea, He has no idea (at least, that's what's implied in the text).  There is a deliberate omission of any opportunity for timely planning.  The key here is that we must always be prepared.  Not only that, but it's up to us to remind ourselves that we must be prepared.  This is an essential part of memory -- a sense of memory that keeps alive not only the events of Jesus' life, but also this promise:  "the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."  That, it seems to me, is a promise, deliberate and emphatic.  So, what it really does is open up the question to us about what it means to be ready, to be prepared.  Every moment becomes important.  Life takes on a heightened sort of energy from this perspective.  How do we take opportunities to be prepared for the Master's return?  Is there something put in front of us now that needs a decision?  And, just right this moment, is there a way to make choices that really reflect our awareness of this memory, this promise, this knowledge that His return will be unexpected?  The heightened expectation of each moment thereby raises our awareness of what we are to be about, what we need to remember, and how we are to be about the Master's business.

Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it

 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!'  Do not go after them or follow them.  For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.  But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man.  They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:  They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away.  And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.  Remember Lot's wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed:  the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together:  the one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field:  the one will be taken and the other left."  And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?"  So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

- Luke 17:20-37

In yesterday's reading, we were told that as He went to Jerusalem Jesus passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"  So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."  And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.  And he was a Samaritan.  So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?  Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"  And He said to him, "Arise, go your way.  Your faith has made you well."

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  My study bible tells us a couple of things about this passage.  First, that "with observation implies by external or tangible means measurable by man."  And second, that "the kingdom of God is an invisible, spiritual reality present within the Christian believer.  The Greek for 'within you' can also be translated 'among you' or 'in your midst.'  To eyes that see, the mystery of the Kingdom is a radiant spiritual glory throughout creation."  Either way we look at it (within you or among you), the implication in the Greek is for an internal kind of presence or reality.  In some ways, saying that this kingdom does not come with observation is also like the saying, "A watched pot never boils."  Looking for signs is not the way Jesus wishes us to pass our time!

Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!'  Do not go after them or follow them.  For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day."  My study bible tells us that "prior to Christ's Second Coming, Christians should not be misled by deceptive calls or signs.  The glorious return of Christ will be as evident as lightning."  I think it's important that we understand what He's saying here, as He's being very clear.  We're not supposed to chase after such prophesies -- because when He returns this change will be apparent to all immediately, all at once.  It will not be hidden, and it will not be secret.  That's not to be our focus!  Let's note the warning:  He knows His disciples (to whom He's speaking) will be longing to see Him again; He's warning them against a kind of temptation.

"But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man.  They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:  They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed."  A note here reads:  "These verses are a warning to be prepared.  The coming of Christ will be like a fire of judgment on many who are preoccupied with daily pursuits, but are oblivious of the things of God."  Here there's another twist on Jesus' warning that this kingdom won't come with observation, and that it is internal.  It's also a surprise -- or rather something that is taking place whether we are aware of it or not.  Our awareness here is the key.  But awareness doesn't mean an external "observation," as taught in the verses above.

"In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away.  And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.  Remember Lot's wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."  Of this passage, my study bible tells us:  "The absolute value of God's Kingdom requires urgent preparedness and decisive action to preserve one's life eternally."  There is a sort of echo here also of another phrase we find in the Gospels, in Luke's chapter 9:  "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."  On His way to Jerusalem, He's now preparing them more urgently for the time when He will no longer be with them, and for the challenges of discipleship in the future.  The urgencies of this Kingdom and our part in it are being stressed by Jesus.

And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?"  So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."  My study bible notes:  "This proverb used by Jesus signifies that His glorious return will come as inevitably and clearly as birds of prey can be seen from afar gathering around a carcass (see Matt. 24:28).  The disciples' question, Where, Lord?  seems to refer to Jesus' earlier words (vv. 34-36)."

Today's words seem to me to be rather mysterious, in the same way the Kingdom is "hidden in plain sight," to use a popular phrase.  Jesus teaches us about what is to come, and also about what is not to be.  We won't watch this Kingdom arrive "with observation."  It is "within us" -- this could be read also, "among us."  One way or another, it is an internal reality.   So how do we observe any of this?  Jesus seems to say that we don't.  We are supposed to be aware of it, and of the fact that it will come all of a sudden.  We also can't be prepared for Judgment, because we who may or may not be a part of this Kingdom live side by side, as close as we can be.  Despite our great longing for His return, all that we can do is be strong and be aware -- be mindful of His promise and know that when it comes we're not to look back.  There is a call here, also, for detachment -- a greater and more urgent appeal for the things of the Kingdom.  I suppose we could say that at that time it is important to understand how the Israelites were looking for liberation, looking to a liberator, the Messiah -- and in that desire we can see the desire for the revelation of this Kingdom in full.  But the disciples' longing for Him is tangible, and it is clear here to the heart of Jesus just how much they will long to see Him after His Resurrection and Ascension.  He knows what they will go through.  And He knows what we go through, what the Church in its entirety has gone through.  Our faith has to rest in His call for us to be mindful of the things of the Kingdom, of His return and its suddenness, of the fact that this Kingdom isn't coming with observation but is within us, among us.  We're to be prepared to make decisions for this Kingdom.  We don't know its full effects, and we don't know its Judgments.  We are only to be aware, and remember Him, and await in this way He teaches us to be alert to the Kingdom's meanings and values and choices.  In the phrase, "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it," we're given an even more powerful message, and to the point.  Not for the first time has Jesus spoken like this, but this is in a new context.  Let us remember the choices that come first, more urgently.  Let us know what we are about.  We bear the Kingdom within us; He's counting on us to be His presence in the world until His return.

Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near

"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."

- Luke 21:20-28

In yesterday's reading, Jesus responded to the admiration of the beautiful and fabulous temple at Jerusalem, a truly wondrous great structure. He warned His listeners: "These things which you see -- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down." In explaining His words, Jesus combines a discussion of the destruction of the temple and the times of the end of the age - and His return. He said, "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them." Jesus warned of wars and upheavals, but also of the times to come of persecution and betrayals - but all will be opportunity for witnessing, testimony. He teaches endurance, and not even to prepare for testimony, for He will provide "a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist." But "by your patience, Jesus says, "possess your souls."

"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." My study bible notes that this is "a prediction of the siege and capture of Jerusalem by Titus, son of the Emperor Vespasian, in A.D. 70. Damage included the total destruction of the temple." This is a vivid description, indeed, of what is to come in Jerusalem. We recall Jesus words of lament, earlier in Luke's Gospel, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!" and elsewhere also reported by Luke: As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!"

"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." My study bible says, "Cosmic as well as historical upheavals will precede the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. The expectation of Christ's return sums up the Christian hope and constitutes an important doctrine of the Church." And here we have the end of the Age - the return of the Son of Man. We don't know why the Gospels arrange this discussion in this way, but surely in the minds of His listeners the two events are tied unequivocally: the destruction of the temple and the coming of the Son of Man. Indeed, in some sense, I believe we are to view ourselves as still living in this time period in which we await His return - so, indeed, in a cosmic sense, the two events are linked and it is but our perception of time which makes it seem as if they are separate from one another. We still live in a time of upheavals in the world and persecutions (such as were related by Jesus in yesterday's reading). We remain in a time when we await, with watchfulness, and we must "take heed that we not be deceived" concerning His return.

Thomas Merton wrote an essay (in the book, "Raids on the Unspeakable") about the time in which we live. It is an essay often associated with Advent, and so it is indeed a "proper time" to mention it. Merton speaks of the great Roman census, for which Joseph and the pregnant Mary have traveled to Bethlehem, the ancestral town of David (Joseph's forbear). But when they arrive, there is no room for them. Merton called the essay, "The Time of No Room" and explained how we do indeed, live in the same time, awaiting His return. Thomas Merton wrote: "We live in a time of no room, which is the time of the end. The time when everyone is obsessed with lack of time, lack of space, with saving time, conquering space, projecting into time and space the anguish produced within them by the technological furies of size, volume, quantity, speed, number, price, power, and acceleration." And he continued, "Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ has come uninvited. With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in this world." We must remember that in today's reading Jesus is speaking to His flock of followers, and warning them of what is to come, what "time" it is they are approaching, indeed, what time is being fulfilled. Let us consider, then, the dismay of His followers and what they are to encounter and to endure, and think of ourselves as the extension of that flock. We still live in this time of upheaval, and lack of time, and wars and nations that rise and fall. We live in a world of the broken, in which He is so often forgotten, and those who love Him may suffer for doing so. As Advent approaches, let us make room for Christ - and recall that throughout these Gospels, those who would become His followers, as Thomas Merton wrote, are so often the ones for whom there is no room. From the Samaritan leper to the poor widow who gave all she had for the love of God, and so many others, time and again, Jesus finds the broken and cast away and they become His followers. Shall we remember the Child for whom there was no room? Let that be our Advent meditation for today - as we heed and remember His warning to not be deceived. He is here among us, in our midst, within us - for all who love Him.