In today’s reading, Jesus and his disciples discuss what we know as ‘end times prophecy’, that describe the events leading up to the Lord's return. Many of the events Jesus mentions are reminiscent of recent natural disasters and catastrophes.

 

This week's news

The conflict in Syria threatens to spill over that country’s borders after Israel bombs Syrian sites.

Many parts of the Caribbean and the USA are still struggling to get back to normal after the catastrophic affects of Hurricane Sandy.

A new study suggests that the earth’s temperatures will increase exponentially.

The BBC, once regarded as the cornerstone of integrity and impartiality within world broadcasting, is said to have lost the trust of its viewers and listeners after the crisis over the child sex scandal.

The USA faces a ‘fiscal cliff’ that threatens to push its economy, and those of other countries, back into recession.

 

Reflection

It is always fascinating to observe how differing commentators explain events such as natural disasters, financial crises or military conflicts.

 

Take, for example, Hurricane Sandy, which devastated parts of America’s Eastern Seaboard, after doing a similar job in the Caribbean. The hurricane proved grist to the mill for some in the environmental lobby who argued that climate change/global warming were the root cause of this devastating natural disaster. For certain religiously-minded individuals, however, the hurricane was a divine warning of further impending doom brought on by human peccadilloes.

 

Certain economists argue that the world’s current financial woes are an extreme aspect of the ‘boom and bust’ cycle that characterises the free market economic system. But for some in the philosophical camp, these crises are symptomatic of a rapacious economic system that puts profits before ethics and people.

Likewise, some apologists for global conflicts argue that they are a ‘necessary evil in the ongoing fight for freedom, human rights and the rule of law’. Others, who take a less sanguine view of conflict, say they are characteristic of ‘man’s inhumanity to man’, and a failure to put into practice what Winston Churchill described as ‘jaw, jaw’ rather than ‘war, war’.

 

What is not beyond doubt is that we have always sought to find a deeper meaning to monumental events. Rather than take these occurrences at face value, we want to find out if they are a ‘sign of the times’.The writer of Ecclesiastes said, ‘….there is nothing new under the sun’ (Ecclesiastes 1.9). And so it was during Jesus’ time. When the Lord mentions the impending destruction of the Temple, the conversation with his disciples segues onto the ‘end times’ and what signs will precede his Second Coming. Ever since Jesus said these words, certain Christians have become fixated with knowing the ‘time or date’ of this event. Indeed, a whole area of theology – eschatology – is dedicated to this topic, and  books, tapes, videos and ‘ministries’ dedicated to it proliferate.

 

What is very instructive is that Jesus tells his disciples ‘not to be alarmed when they hear of these events’ as ‘such things must happen, but the end is still to come’ (Mark 13.7). Jesus is saying that we should not be alarmed because God is in control, and that is where we should therefore put our trust. Moreover, rather than focusing all our attention on what is happening in the world, we ought to turn our gaze on the Lord. Paradoxically, this will help us develop a better perspective on worldly matters.

 

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
we thank you that you remain sovereign
amid life’s literal and figurative storms.
Help us to always have our eyes and hearts fixed on you,
firm in the knowledge that you are our rock and strong tower.
Enable us to be mindful of the times in which we live,
always seeking to lead lives that glorify your name
and draw others to you.
This we ask in Jesus’ name. 
Amen.

 

Questions

• How do we strike a balance between looking for spiritual meanings in all natural disasters and seeking rational explanations for such events?
  
• In Matthew’s version of this story (Matthew 24.42), Jesus tells his disciples to ‘keep watch’. What does he mean by this?

 

Action

Choose one news story this week in which people are described facing cataclysmic events. Spend a bit of time trying to imagine the dilemma of someone experiencing this situation and considering seriously what their feelings might be.

 

Young People

Jesus encouraged his disciples to ‘keep watch’ when talking about natural disasters and catastrophes. A practical way of keeping watch is to monitor our often poor stewardship of God’s planet. Find out more about the many Christian organisations working to ensure we avert ‘man-made’ disasters.

 

 

Richard Reddie is a writer and researcher. His latest book, ‘Martin Luther King Jr: History Maker’ is published by Lion Hudson. He worships at St James Church (CofE), West Streatham, London. 

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