The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Nov. 18, 2001

Based on the RCL readings: Isaiah 65:17-25, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 & Luke 21:5-19

The readings this week reflect our need to live our lives in expectancy, and to seek grace in an apocalyptic age, an age that dwells on the end of time. They speak of the suffering and persecution that Christians face in an apocalyptic age. They call us to deal with the ambiguity of living with uncertainty about the future. They call us to live in faithfulness to God even under trying circumstances. Such materials represent a classic theme in Scripture and a distinct view of history – one that speaks to the age in which we live.

The community of Thessalonica to which Paul was writing certainly understood that they were living in the end times. They had a sense of expectancy that the Lord would come again in their lifetime.

The passage from Isaiah is an apocalyptic vision that envisions not only a new Zion but also a new heaven and a new earth. It follows the time of exile in Babylon during which the people of Israel lived in suffering and poverty as refugees. They are returning to their homeland to begin the task of rebuilding, not only their lives but also their faith and their civilization. It will be a restoration of Paradise. They are promised that God will be so near to them that they will not even need to make their requests in prayer. It is a vision that speaks to suffering people giving them hope for the future.

Jesus and the disciples are standing in front of a lovely synagogue. It is the very temple that was rebuilt following the exile in Babylon. He tells them that this beautiful structure that they see before them will not last. "What are the signs?" they want to know. Jesus paints a portrait of a world in great turmoil and conflict. "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven." Jesus tells them that it will be a time of testing for the faithful. They will experience persecution, betrayal, hatred and even death.

While I was walking Jewel yesterday morning I chatted with a neighbour. "Scripture is being fulfilled," he said to me. "I cannot read the Bible without realizing that we are in the end times. There have been earthquakes, famines and plagues. There has been war and violence." And he is certainly not alone in his thinking. There is enough uncertainty in human existence that there probably has never been a time when people didn't think that the end was at hand. But certain periods in the world's history have reflected that belief more clearly than others. With the coming of the millennium coupled with the events of the past few months this is one of those time periods.

Paul's letter gives us insight into how Christians are called to live in these uncertain times. For many in the community at Thessalonica it was an exciting time, a time of great productivity. They had an excitement for the faith that they wanted to share. They lived their lives with diligence and faithfulness to the gospel. Others in the community used it as an excuse for slacking off, for being lazy and irresponsible. Paul pointed out to them in no uncertain terms, that the possibility of Our Lord's return called for their complete commitment to the Gospel.

The problem is that many people have given up on the Church. The secular world would lead us to believe that we live in the post-Christian era, that the Church no longer has relevance in the world. Churches are in decline. Sometimes we even view ourselves as irrelevant. In an age of fear about the future, many are tempted to opt out. When your life seems meaningless, hopelessness sets in. That is not an option for the Christian. The possibility of Our Lord's return does not call for anything less than fully committing ourselves to the world in which we live. And let me point out that we have always lived with that possibility.

Our call is to live in hope and expectation, to live 'as if'. It is our vocation to offer the best we have, to give of ourselves to others in need, to give thanks for God's gifts to us and to give our time and talents to do the work of God.

I think that many people see this particular church as a lost cause. Clergy come and go with some regularity that I have heard described as a revolving door. You wonder whether to trust the new priest. "How long will this one stay?" We have a debt hanging over our heads. We never seem to achieve financial stability. We make headway for a time and then we have a set back.

I want to share my experience of this church over the past year. It is a wonderful parish. You are above all practical people who face your problems and deal with them. There is a willingness to change and to grow. There is a beautiful liturgical tradition. There are committed people who give hours of their time to make our sanctuary beautiful, to sing in our choir, to serve at the altar, to do the administrational tasks of the church. There are those who grace us with the gift of hospitality as they greet people coming in or host the coffee hour after service. We have lay readers and lectors. Hundreds of volunteer hours make this church happen. Many people in this congregation support the church generously. This year has been one of financial growth. We have people committed to supporting the church through PAG and envelopes.

And that is how it should be. That is what it means to be the church. It is about the people of God gathered in thanksgiving. Our thanksgiving must be thanks accompanied by giving, the giving of ourselves to others in need, the giving of thanks for God's gifts to us and the giving of our treasure, talents and time to do the work of the Church. We could do so much more.

I hope that everyone will take seriously the commitment program that our Stewardship committee is asking us to undertake. Look at your givings – time, talents and treasure. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."