The Gospel Lesson from the Revised Common Lectionary’s daily
readings is Matthew 23:37-24:14. That reading contains Jesus’ Lament over
Jerusalem and then his prediction of the destruction of the Temple. This latter section is sometimes titled the
Little Apocalypse or the Olivet Apocalypse (as it was spoken by Jesus to his
disciples while they were on the Mount of Olives).
Verses 24:4b-14 read:
‘Beware that no one leads you astray.
For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead
many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are
not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and
earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth
pangs.
‘Then they will hand you over to be
tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations
because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another
and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.
But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the
kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the
nations; and then the end will come.1
It is not a very jovial passage. But, in order fully to appropriate the
significance of this season, it is necessary to remember that part of the
emphasis of this time of the liturgical year is on the return of Christ in
glory. The New Testament maintains that
this includes some unpleasantness.
Jesus pledges hope for those who endure. But he does not promise an easy road. May God grant us all the ability to endure to
the end.
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