Readings: Zechariah 14:4-9; 1
Thess. 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-31
November 30, 2003
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
What is the final destiny of humanity and of this world? When will justice and peace reign on earth? What events need to take place in order for love to be the operating principle? What is God's vision for us? When and how will humanity ever be in full communion with God, each other, and creation? If you are asking any of these questions then you are interested in the subject of eschatology. Eschatology is the study of the end of times. Eschatology is about the future: a future when good will win out over evil; when love will overcome fear; when the light of Christ overcomes the darkness, and the glory of God shines throughout the cosmos. Eschatology is the focus of this season of Advent and is the subject of today's sermon.
Last week, I made a quick trip to visit a friend whose son was celebrating his 14th birthday. The boy is in the 8th grade and has begun studying algebra. He is not doing well at all in this subject. However, he does know his arithmetic and has memorized the multiplication and division tables. But algebra requires him to think more abstractly and independently than arithmetic does, especially when it comes to solving "word problems." While he has the capacity to understand algebra, he wants things to come easy. He does not want to spend the time or the energy struggling with new material. He does not think that algebra has much meaning in his life. And since he is unable to see the bigger picture of his educational process, he ignores those areas that are difficult or puzzling.
Today, I want to move from teaching arithmetic to teaching algebra. I want to give you an "algebra lesson" on eschatology. Eschatology is a concept that is a little more difficult than some of the theological subjects that we have covered in the past. Since it deals with the bigger picture that is often beyond our control, it is ignored. Like the boy who does not want to spend time or energy struggling with new material, many modern day Christians do not want to deal with the subject of eschatology. Because they do not understand its immediate importance, eschatology is often dismissed as being outdated, superstitious, or cooked up by some dead, white men of the past. Our world is worse off because of this. We need to long for, pray for, and work toward God's vision for creation. So I hope you will be willing to struggle with some of the concepts presented today, and allow the spirit of it all, to inform your minds and hearts, even if it requires you to stretch.
Christianity is always "forward looking." We have a sense that something is not quite right with the world in which we live. There is just too much suffering, war, despair, and hardship. Most people long for a time when nation will not lift up sword against nation; when enemies become the best of friends; when the wolf shall live with the lamb and the leopard lie down with the kid. Christ has already come and has revealed God's will and word for humanity; a word that will lead humanity to wholeness. And so we say that "the kingdom of God is near." However, this word of God has not yet been fully integrated into the human heart. And so we pray that "the kingdom of God will come." Something else needs to happen before humanity is fully transformed. That something else is often referred to as the Second Coming of Christ.
The Second Coming of Christ is one way of saying that that the future belongs to God. God is acting in this world to create harmony, peace, and well being. How and when this future state of holy communion will come into full being, or what the specific details will be, are unknown. Often times, biblical writers will use vivid language to describe the coming of this future reality. Its purpose is to give hope when all one can see is darkness.
In our first lesson, Zechariah describes the time when God will come and bring peace and justice to those who are suffering here on earth: "On that day, living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, and the Lord will become King over all the earth."[Zech. 14] In our second lesson, Paul describes the Second Coming of Christ as something that begins in the human heart and is fulfilled in the future. He writes to the people of Thessalonia: "May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another. May he strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before God at the coming of our Lord Jesus." [1 Thess. 3] In the gospel, Jesus speaks about the future in more cosmic terms: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, the stars, and on the earth. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." [Lk. 21] These are three different but colorful images which speak to a new future; a future that belongs to God; when goodness and justice will prevail. The Holy Scriptures point to this future reality using poetic imagery that is not to be taken literally, but is to be taken seriously. What is to be taken seriously is that God is active in this world and that the power of God can do more than we can ever hope or imagine. Remember, all language about God is metaphorical.
How we actually understand the Second Coming of Christ varies according to our position in society and our experiences in life. For instance, if you are optimistic and privileged, you might understand the Second Coming of Christ as the gradual enlightenment of human beings that has already begun. You could support this position of enlightened thinking by pointing out the advances in science & medicine, ecology, peace, and outreach. Specifically, you might point to the Clean Water Act and its success in cleaning up the many rivers in our country. You could point to the irradication of many childhood diseases, the advances in medicine, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, and the collapse of communism. You could point to the thousands of organizations and people who sacrifice their time, talent, and treasure in fighting poverty, hunger, and political oppression. From your perspective, life on earth is basically good and you have hope that more and more individuals will choose to do good over evil.
If on the other hand, you are an orphan in Afghanistan freezing in the cold, a female child in India sold into prostitution, a starving family in Mexico picking through the garbage dumps, an Iraqi man killed in the crossfire, or a minimum wage working family in the United States not being able to afford medical care or housing, then you would probably have a different perspective. You would view the world as being unjust and harsh. You would wonder why some people throw away food and are overweight, while 6000 children die each day from hunger. You would wonder why nations choose to fight against nations, causing great suffering from death, destruction, economic collapse, and societal instability. You would long for a time when God would intrude upon human history and wipe away the tears from our eyes. Your hope for a different future would require a more apocalyptic approach, when God will defeat the powers of death and destruction that destroy the creatures of God and will give full life to all of his creatures, not just the privileged or the powerful.
From a Christian perspective, the goal of human history is not "the one with the most toys wins." The goal of human history is not suffering and despair. The goal of human history is full communion with God, each other, and all of creation. Whether you believe that the Second Coming of Christ is something that happens within the human heart or whether you believe that it is something that is more intrusive into human history, I think that it is important for all of us to be more concerned about the future and about the world in which we live. It is important for us to know and recognize the power of God in whatever way God chooses to use that power. And if the future belongs to God, shouldn't that influence that way we live our lives today? If the future belongs to God, shouldn't we be dissatisfied with this current world and work for justice and peace and the dignity of every human being? If the future belongs to God, shouldn't we pray for the reign of God on a daily basis and purify our lives so that we become Christ bearers in this dark world? My hope is that that all of us who have committed our lives to Christ will strive to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armor of light so that full communion is possible in this world and the next.
"Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal." [BCP 211]
| Updated 12/7/03 |
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