A darkened sun, a blank moon, crashing stars and the return of Jesus upon the clouds.
You know when you hear all this in today’s Gospel (Mark 13: 24-32) you are in the realm of apocalyptic literature. This struggle between cosmic doomsday and a conquering Jesus is a variation on the age-old battle between good and evil and between light and darkness.
Since there are always signs of disaster around us with global warming, Covid-19, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis and September 11th, there will always be people reading signs of the last days in these events. Most people just sigh and go about their business and not pay much attention.
But is there something in all of this apocalyptic language and images that we should be paying attention to? Beneath all of these claims and predictions of the world coming to an end lies an absolute truth – God is God!
We feel with our insurance plans, Medicare, credit cards, frequent flyer miles and bonuses a certain pride that we can be isolated from life’s tragedies. We entertain the fantasy that we are in charge of life.
Yet with all the niceties and novelties in our daily lives and the shock absorbers we put around us, it all falls apart when we leave the doctor’s office with a bad prognosis or a loved one dies. The apocalyptic voice in all of us says, “What did you expect? You were never in charge to begin with.”
God is in charge of the times and the seasons and all of our lives. God is saying to you and to me: “Go ahead and live your life. Just don’t hug the illusion that you are in charge. Be open to the Spirit. Do your best, but be humble enough to give God the glory.”
To what extent is God in charge of YOUR life and the life of the world around YOU?
LIFE WITHOUT GOD IS LIKE AN UNSHARPENED PENCIL. IT HAS NO POINT!!
