Be prepared

Prepared for the Uncertain Future

CALL TO WORSHIP

Together we are strong in the Lord. In trouble we can trust the Lord. With confidence we can pray to the Lord. With hope we can look forward to the day of the Lord. Come, and worship the Lord, our God. Amen.

HYMN

Waymaker

GATHERING PRAYER

We come to you, indestructible God, to pray for our world, to praise you with one voice, to hear your words of wisdom, to entrust our nation to your love, to encourage one another to grow in faith. In Jesus we come and pray and rejoice, to your glory. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

God of all the world, when we get overwhelmed by the enormity of suffering – strengthen us; when we lose faith in your love for our world – forgive us; when we struggle to believe that your hands hold us – reassure us; when we collude with the negativity of our world – uplift us; that we may be voices for peace and bringers of hope to those who are afraid.

So many times, we take the easy way, rather than the right way.

For times when self-preservation, and selfish ambitions overtake our service of you.

We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God who always shows mercy, to those who truly repent. Forgive us and let your grace be upon us.

Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done.

On earth as it is in heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those that trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

Forever and ever Amen.

HYMN

The King of Love my Shepherd is (StF 479)

READING 1

Daniel 12: 1-3

READING 2

Mark 13: 1-8

HYMN

All my hope on God is founded (StF 144)

Offertory

SERMON

Standing Firm in Uncertain Times

Bible Passage: Daniel 12:1–3, Mark 13:1–8

1. Protection in Perilous Times

When our Grandson was a small boy, he is now in his mid-twenties and nearly seven foot tall. We took his to see one of the Toy Story films. I remember clearly, we bought him the overpriced bag of goodies he sat with a sweet in the form of a snake that he held onto and never put to his mouth, as he was drawn into the storyline. Has anyone seen any of the Toy Story films?

Near the end of the film Woody the cowboy character is being taken onto a plane, and Buzz Lightyear is chasing along the runway to the rescue.

In the midst of this my little grandson stood up on the chair and shouted out “BUZZ’LL SAVE YOU” much to the amusement of the other adults who laughed.

In Today’s readings both Daniel and Jesus cry out to us “GOD WILL SAVE YOU”

Daniel 12:1

The book of Daniel could almost be split in two,

The first part tells the Life story of Daniels and his experience as a captive, after being taken to Babylon, where he not only remained faith to God and God used him to greatly in Babylon in the service of Nebuchadnezzar and later Darius.

It appears Daniel never returned to Jerusalem, yet his life was a life of service to God.

The second part is prophecy.

When we come to today’s reading, we find an amazing scripture! 600 hundred years before Jesus was born, Daniel was urging the people of Israel to prepare for the end of time.

Daniel gives an amazing word of encouragement, to the people. the promise of God’s powerful protection. Were told the Archangel Michael stand as a guardian for God’s people.

Even though disasters lay ahead.

The truth is those people lived in a place that was not their own and no doubt their children would only hear stories of Jerusalem their and their homeland.

Are we not the same as Christians we may have been born here, are we not really stranger in a strange land, those of us who believe in God as our Lord seem at odds with those around us today. There aims are not ours.

The people of Israel and we, today all face loss, we all face uncertainty, we may at times feel battered and worn, but we who have faith can find solace and confidence in the promise of Christ, that we are never alone.

We are not told we will be cushioned against the trials we face, but what we can trust in, is that we can in the end, By staying faithful is “God has got us”.

Daniel warns the people of the trials they will face, which is also true for us the important message is that they and us should not lose sight of God in our troubles, but to hold on firm to our faith.

2. Promise of Resurrection and Glory

Daniel speaks of the promise of resurrection, these verses may well point to Jesus as the source of eternal life, this is the promise we can hold onto and remain faithful amongst the many distractions and struggles we may face.

We are all encouraged to hold onto our faith, knowing deep within that God’s promise will lead to an eternal reward, far beyond the trials of the present.

3. Precaution Through Prophecy

Do not be alarmed. That’s the first thing I have to say about today’s gospel And it’s the same thing Jesus told the disciples. “Do not be alarmed.” Do not be disturbed or troubled by all these things. Do not be frightened.

Jesus also told the disciples that he’s not talking about an ending but about a beginning, the bringing of new life. He’s describing a movement toward wholeness, fullness, and completion.

Today’s gospel the theme could be “making all things new.” And I think it’s exactly what we need to hear these days when it looks as if so, many things are coming apart at the seams.

Today’s gospel overflows with good news. And yes, it’s difficult and challenging but it’s worth all our attention and effort.

It’s a gospel about hope. It’s a gospel about opportunities and possibilities. It’s a gospel about finding meaning and new life. It’s a gospel about your future and my future. And who among doesn’t sometimes wonder, worry, or even become alarmed about our future and the future of the world?

I’ve come to realize that when I become alarmed about the future I’m not really focused on the unknown and a time yet to come. I’m more focused on the things I known and the present time.

I suppose I want to know if the temples I’ve built will withstand the test of time. Will the centre hold? Will my relationships endure? Will my acquisitions and accomplishments continue to give identity, meaning, and security? Will the systems I’ve created for my life, remain intact? Are the foundations of my life stable and strong enough to last?

In other words, I’m focused on the large stones and large buildings of my life. So, when I hear Jesus say, “Not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down,” I get a bit twitchy. Maybe you do too. Jesus says the very things that I am most focused on are coming down. I can’t help but wonder if I’ve missed the point and been distracted from what really matters, from the new life that is waiting and wanting to be birthed through me.

Maybe that’s what is going on with the disciple who says to Jesus, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Maybe he’s missed the point and distracted himself from what really matters and is calling for attention.

I say that for a couple of reasons. First, what this disciple says doesn’t make sense to me. This surely wasn’t the first time this disciple, an adult Jewish man, had been to or seen the temple.

This no doubt was a magnificent sight huge marble slabs the size of a large car, would glimmer in the sunlight, would look wonderful, and more over permanent.

And he had probably grown up going to the temple. He’d gone to the temple with Jesus at least twice before that day (Mark 11:11,15). The large stones and buildings of the temple were not new to him. He’d seen it all before.

Second, there’s a disconnect between what he says and what has just happened. Jesus and his disciples have just left the temple where they sat opposite the treasury watching the crowd put money into the collection point. Many rich people put in large sums, but a poor widow put in one penny, all that she had. Jesus says to his disciples, “Truly I tell you this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.” (Mark 12:41-44) With those words Jesus has begun cracked the stones of power, wealth, prestige, reputation, position, and security. A separation has begun.

Jesus holds up the widow as an example. She’s probably not the example the disciples or we would hold up. She has no wealth, power, position, or security. She’s the one we often overlook, ignore, and even sometimes abuse. And the first thing, the only thing, the disciple says is, “Wow! Look how big that building is.” He didn’t get it. Maybe we don’t either.

I wonder if this disciple is trying to change the subject and distract himself from what Jesus has just said. Haven’t you done that? I have.

We change the subject or distract ourselves, so we don’t have to deal with the vulnerable, painful, or broken parts of our lives.

I wonder if he’s looking at the large stones and buildings, so he doesn’t have to look at himself in light of the widow. I wonder if he’s feeling the large stones and buildings of his life beginning to shift and separate.

When have you felt that shift and separation?

I feel it every time a loved one dies. I remember my temple coming down the day when plans I had made tumbled down, I feel it every time I tell myself a lie rather than face the truth about myself.

It happens when I use my accomplishments to avoid facing how I need to change. It’s all those times I look at what’s happening outside of me instead of what’s happening inside of me. It’s there whenever I refuse to see, acknowledge, and receive the widow and her way of life in my life.

You know as well as I do that’s a difficult and uncomfortable place to be, and we’ve all been there. Jesus says it looks and sounds like war and rumours of war. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines.

Every one of those is an image of separation: nation separated from nation, kingdom from kingdom, the earth from itself. Even the widow is an image of separation. She’s separated from her husband and the life she once had. Those images describe not only what is happening around us but also within us.

That’s the hard and challenging part of today’s gospel. It’s showing and telling us something we don’t want to see, hear, or deal with. It’s too frightening, painful, and uncertain.

What if, however, they are not separations that destroy but separations that create and give birth? What if they are an opening, a space, for something new to come to life?

Jesus is never more compassionate than he is during these times. He speaks with such tenderness and reassurance. “Do not be alarmed.” “This must take place.” “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” It’s as if he is saying. “Don’t worry. This is normal. You’re going to be ok. I’m the Midwife who will get you through this.”

Take a look at your life today. What would it be like to stop changing the subject and distracting ourselves? What if we face the elephant next to us and said, “We need to talk. We have some things to work out?” What are the large stones and large buildings of your life that are being thrown down or need to be thrown down?

I wonder what would come of all that; what it would ask of us, what it would offer us, and what might be born.

What if, in those times when it feels like our life is shifting and separating and everything is being thrown down, we would trust our creator and just push a little? Push with faith, push with hope, push with love, push with anticipation of something new.

HYMN

My soul finds rest in God alone (StF 633)

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

We praise you, Lord Jesus, that in turmoil and in trouble, we can trust you. For you are the peace beyond war, the hope beyond despair, the light beyond darkness, the stability amid chaos. Your love is indestructible and eternal; it surrounds us, day by day. Thank you for being our strength and our Saviour. Amen.

We pray for leaders everywhere: for the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations... for the leaders of the poorest nations… for the leaders of our own nation… for the leaders of our churches… May they be blessed with wisdom, humility and compassion. We pray for those entrusted with great responsibilities: in hospitals…in schools…in care homes… May they be blessed with wisdom, humility and compassion. We pray for those who influence and inspire others: pop stars…actors…sports men and women…writers…artists…storytellers… May they be blessed with wisdom, humility and compassion. And we pray for one another and for ourselves, that as we live out our lives, we too may be blessed with wisdom, humility and compassion. Amen.

HYMN

Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord (StF 186)

BLESSING

Shine like a star in heaven. Guide others in the true path. Be wise and understanding. Support one another, and stand firm, in the midst of turmoil. In the name and strength of Jesus. Amen.