Luke 21:5-19 "I will give you the words"... There is hope.

So this Sunday’s readings are so cheery aren’t they? Malachi speaks of the fiery burning when all evildoers and the arrogant will become stubble. Our second reading talks about staying away from believers who are idle, and now Jesus, in our Gospel talks about people being persecuted, jailed and even killed because of his name…so this is a great Sunday to be a Christian and hear these words. Don’t they make you happy?

There is nothing like a good story of destruction is there? Remember the movies Towering Inferno, Dante’s Peak, Earthquake, and the Poseidon Adventure. Many of us went to the movies, spent our $10 or more dollars and sat and watched a good adventure movie. All these movies began with nice calm scenes. Then it happened, a natural disaster would occur and we are glued to the movie screen to see how they would get out of that situation. Some of these movies won some big awards.

This is no movie, though. This is not something that we pay our $10 to see how it comes out. This is the bible! This is something more serious because these are Jesus words. This is important stuff that we are hearing. Jesus is telling us that there will not be one stone left unturned; in fact, all the stones with be “thrown down.” Jesus is warning us that things are going to happen and they are not the good things. He is telling us that there will be people coming to tell us tales and trying to lead us astray. He speaks of us hearing about wars and insurrections, persecutions, famines, earthquakes, imprisonment.

It is a bleak picture that Jesus paints, isn’t it? I mean, it sounds like we have heard these words before. We have heard them in the Omen movies from the ‘70’s, we heard them in a movie that always scared me when I was a youth called the “Late, Great, Planet Earth.” I bet that some of our thoughts might go right to the book of Revelation and all the stories from that book of scripture. The biggest difference is that this is Jesus, the Son of God, telling us that these things are going to happen. So, this carries a lot more weight than just the words of a Prophet.

It would be easy for our minds to immediately go to this picture of destruction and gloom. I am going to ask you think about this word, destruction, for just a moment. Using all the words that we have heard the Son of God uses in his description. This word destruction and the images that come with it can make us anxious, if not down-right scared. It paints such a bleak picture that we might not want to think about tomorrow or a future; we might end up just wanting to know like the disciples, “when will all this happen?”

Now that you have that picture, I want you to think of something entirely different. I am going to ask you to think about the concept of Hope. Jesus is telling the people not to worry about when this will happen. Jesus response is to say not to listen to those who come and say they are someone that they are not. He tells people to be aware. He does not say go hunting to see if people are making these claims. Jesus does not say to seek out and persecute or attack people. Jesus is telling them to be aware. Believe it or not, that is part of hope. Jesus goes on to tell the people “do not be terrified.” He is telling them not to worry about this stuff that is going to happen.

Basically, what Jesus is telling the people not to sit and wait around for these events to occur. Think about it, I can tell you from this standpoint that I would sit around and wait for the end to come. I can tell you that because I actually did it. When I was in high school and the movie, “The Late Great Planet Earth” came out, I was terrified. I sat around all summer that year after watching it; I waited for the end. I would hear the AIR Raid alarm from the elementary school going off at noontime and think that was the end. It was not until my oldest brother got married that summer and I spoke to the pastor that was marrying them. I asked him about the movie and he told me that it was just a movie. We talked a little more and I felt better; I wasn’t totally convinced but I got tired or waiting for the end.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I believe that this scripture is telling us a more important story about hope. Because despite all these things that Jesus tells us will happen [by the way, he does not tells us when they will happen] Jesus tells us the most important words deep within this Gospel. Jesus says, I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.” Jesus is telling the disciples, listeners, and even us “you don’t need to worry because I am going to give you the words…” Jesus, the Son of God, will not abandon us because we will have the words.

Jesus is talking about the listeners, disciples, and even us using our words to witness. He is talking about witnessing God in the world, witnessing the love of God, the grace of God, and the compassion that God has for us in this world. Jesus is giving us the words of God’s relationship with the people of Jesus’ time and God’s relationship with us in this world. I do believe that we have all seen God in this world; we have seen God’s work in the world and we have seen God’s mercy, love, and compassion in the world. We have seen God’s love in the birth of children, the hugs of family and friends, and we have seen God’s love displayed for us on the cross…the sign that once meant ridicule and shame that has now become the display of God’s gracious act of forgiveness and love for broken people.

 We have seen God’s presence with one another. When we forgive one another or seek forgiveness from one another, when we help someone who is in need [whether it be through prayer, food, clothing, shelter], or just spending time together God is present and whether we know it or not, God is with all of us at these times.

My point is that God does not call us to sit around and just wait for the end. God calls us to be active in the world. God calls us to testify…to be witnesses to God’s love for us and our love for God. God does give us the words through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. We have the words and actions of Jesus Christ as our teacher in helping neighbors; we have his words and actions in not judging others but leaving that up to God. We have Jesus’ words in proclaiming God as a loving God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. We have God’s promise that we are not left alone, but it is God who is always with us in our good times and in our struggles.

Friends in Christ, God has given us some of the words and actions in proclaiming God as creator of all that God has made. We have been given the words to witness the God of Israel who baptizes and calls God’s children beloved. Just last week we witnessed to God’s faithfulness by making commitments to God in our faithfulness in giving to the ministries of this church and for that we can all say amen to God! We are witness to God’s love through the sacrifice of God’s only son of the cross, and we have been given the words to show others that they are worthy of God’s love. On this day that the Lord has made, may we all continue our witness in our words and our actions to the love and promises of Almighty God: AMEN!