Luke 21:25-36 “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
"Image courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org"
Context: In the passages preceding our reading Jesus has walked in the temple and talked with the disciples about the impending destruction of the temple which happened in 70 CE. In this passage, Jesus is speaking within the context of hearers who have not experienced the destruction which he foretells. Writing some 40 years after the resurrection, I believe Luke's hearers will have experienced the destruction at the hands of the Roman Empire. At the same time we are reading these references to the temple destruction, we listen to the echoes of the words of the prophets ... illusions to end times, judgment, and the coming of the "Son of Man" ... which today we interpret in various ways as the second coming of Christ. Just as our close reading of Scripture reveals these beautiful layers of meaning, so close attention to our Advent journey will reveal layers of spiritual meaning. We wait for the first coming of the Christ at the same time we wait for the second coming of the Christ!
How hard it is to wait! Jesus follows up his discussion of ominous "signs" with an ordinary, strange but understandable illustration from daily life. The fig tree is often used as a metaphor for the peace and prosperity of Israel in the Old Testament because of their sustaining quality. Figs grow abundantly between the Mediterranean and Black Seas. They grow especially well along water courses and the rich, bottom lands in the Holy Land make a hospitable environment for figs. People in ancient times often carried strings of dried figs on long journeys across the desert. Food was often scarce in this region and figs provided travelers with a nutritious high protein, high carbohydrate food source. As is typical of parables we find the reign of God at the heart of the story.
Going Deeper: It may seem a strange time to consider such an ominous passage when we are shopping for Christmas gifts and listening to Christmas Carols on the radio. There are three turns in this long passage. First, Luke gives us an image of destruction. He follows that with a simple nature illustration featuring leaves that predict the coming of summer. In the third turn, we find the point of the passage: Watch out! Keep alert! We wait ... with patient expectancy for the reign of God which is now and which will be. How often it is that in the wake of disaster we find God in the midst of it all. Watch out! Keep alert! In our advent journey we find hope for our future ... in this world and in the next, whatever that means! The spiritual concept of hope is not the same as the secular kind of wishing. Our hope is a quiet confidence that we celebrate in our Advent Journey because it is based on a promise made long, long ago.
Pondering: Referring to his book Theology of Hope, Theologian Jurgen Moltmann says "I tried to present the Christian hope no longer as such an 'opium of the beyond' but rather as the divine power that makes us alive in this world." (page 4) The last line of the passage reads "And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man." Jesus says, Watch out! Keep alert! Is it possible that the day is today. Is it possible that we stand before the Son of Man every day. Is your heart dull by the worries of your life? Is it possible that all we have to do in order to catch a glimpse of the Messiah is to open our eyes? Are you having a hard time opening your eyes? Why? What is it that you need to let go of in order to embrace the abundance of life?
Prayer: Martin Luther King, Jr. said: "He [and she] who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love." As you begin the Journey of Advent looking at the promise of eternal life with hope for the future, I invite you to "let go" of the worries of your life and the guilt that come with them by engaging in this online forgiveness meditation as often as you need to. Watch out! Keep alert! And be ready to catch a glimpse of the Messiah.
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