Hope is the better wa

 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19

The closer the story of Jesus gets to the end, the more intense the situation gets. We remember that the Gospels were written decades after Jesus lived. All but Mark are thought to have been written after the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70CE. That event would figure large in the writing of the story, just like Pearl Harbor, the assassination of JFK, the 9/11 attacks, and the COVID pandemic figure into the stories of those respective times, and have an effect on us decades later.

In addition, in the world of the Thessalonians in the 40s and 50s, the Roman/Greek world often experienced persecutions of certain groups. Some caesars insisted that people worship them like gods, and it was hard to avoid such worship because it was present everywhere in the culture. And sometimes, the caesar declared that the Jews and the Christians were not permitted to worship within the city limits. That is why Paul often looked outside the cities to preach about Jesus.   

Jesus knows that the changes he brings will cause upheaval in the societies of his followers. He could be looking ahead, or his words could reflect the trauma of the conquest of Jerusalem by the Romans. “Be aware, he cautions, that hard times may be ahead for you, and be prepared to remain faithful no matter what. If you are arrested and tried, don’t worry. It will be an opportunity to testify about me and God’s love. You don’t even need to practice what you will say, because the Spirit will give you the words.”

This passage from Luke is called the “Little Apocalypse”. It follows a pattern of warnings about calamities followed by the reassurance of God’s provision for the faithful. We are called to endure the trials of the day knowing God is present, even if it doesn’t seem like it.

And, in the face of times of trial, we are not to sit back and wait for the end to come. Paul urges the folks in the church at Thessalonica to earn their own living. The Greek words used here actually say that some folks were meddlesome, busybodies. Not only were they idle, not working, they were advocating for others to also focus on getting ready for the return of Jesus.

… For centuries, beginning soon after the death and resurrection of Jesus, people have been trying to predict when Jesus would return, even though Jesus said plainly that no one knew, except God the Father. Paul believed Jesus would return during his own lifetime.

In our times, we may remember some groups who thought the turn of the 21^st century meant the coming of Jesus. Y2K messages were everywhere, and we were told that computer software might not be able to handle the challenge of the change from 1900 to 2000 dates, and to be prepared for the end of the world. 

Just before that, in 1997, the Heaven’s Gate cult believed that the arrival of the Hale Bopp comet meant they could catch the tail of the comet to go to their celestial home. Thirty-nine people died together by suicide. And, according to Reddit, some are now predicting that Jesus will return in 2033, the 2000^th anniversary of his death.

… For us today, we can focus on all the bad stuff that is happening, near us and around the world. Certainly, there are wars and insurrections today, and sometimes it’s hard to know who to support. Certainly, there are financial stresses today. Political decisions have an effect on our own budgets and on the budgets of the folks who have few resources. We tend to take sides instead of working together to find solutions for all. It seems like our country is on the brink of disaster, one way or another.

In response, both Jesus and Paul tell us to remain faithful and testify about the good news. Trust that God is present and active against the evil forces that hurt God’s people. They tell us to work together to strengthen and benefit our communities for the common good.

Above all, we are to hope. One definition of the word hope is “the refusal to quit.” After the dire warnings of social upheaval and promises of God’s presence, Jesus talks about spring and summer.  In verses 29-32, just beyond our reading, Jesus says: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

So, we may live in despair, sighing and groaning and grumbling about how bad things are today. Or we can look to Jesus’ promise to be with us and live with hope for better things to happen. We can look with hope for better things, good things, that happen every day.  

We can: Look and listen for the joyous laughter of a child. Use our AARP card to get discounts at hotels and restaurants and appreciate the savings. Savor the flavor of our favorite cookie or cake. Notice the pot-hole that was finally fixed. Give thanks for medical professionals for their care for so many illnesses and conditions. Thank current and veteran soldiers and police officers for their service in keeping us safe.

When we just need a moment, we can take a walk outside and notice how nature keeps on going and renewing itself. The future is held within a seed, which grows in the most surprising places. How can we not hope, when we see the persistence of a seed growing into a flower, ready to spread more seeds? 

This week, I hope you will take some time for hope. Instead of worrying about the current and anticipated calamities, I encourage you to seek out those circumstances that bring you hope. Amen