"Whatever system of government may currently be in power, God's Royal Proclamation comes as a Word that evokes an accounting from - and possibly a confrontation with - earthly rulers. And as Jesus simply observes: don't be led astray, earthly rulers never accept accounting kindly. There will be resistance."
Year B, Season of Pentecost
Proper 28, Ordinary Time 33
Sunday Between November 13 and November 19 Inclusive
24th Sunday After Pentecost 2009
Read the passage: The Message or The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).
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Zowie, Christmas music has already been playing in the malls for weeks now, and the Lectionary gives us a dire warning about not being led astray - not being deceived by the many who will say, "Here is your salvation."
What is distinctive about final words before death in the Mediterranean world (and elsewhere) is that the person about to die is believed capable of knowing what is going to happen to persons near and dear to him or her.
These are not predictions about a far distant future, but a reading of the signs of Jesus' present times that is heightened by the dying person's approaching the humanly unknowable realm of the divine. Indeed, Jesus' words about the destruction of the Temple are stated as a simple fact.
As happens frequently in Mark, a public teaching by Jesus is given a more detailed explanation in private - in this case to the 4 who were the first to be chosen as disciples.
Let's see - this text talks about many who will falsely say, "I am he;" about being led astray; about wars and rumors of war; about earthquakes; about famines; about birth pangs. Where is the Good News?
The text should certainly shake us from mistakenly thinking the Good News is Easy News or Happy News.
Indeed, the Greek word that is translated as "Good News" means "Royal Proclamation."
Whatever system of government may currently be in power, God's Royal Proclamation comes as a Word that evokes an accounting from - and possibly a confrontation with - earthly rulers. And as Jesus simply observes: don't be led astray, earthly rulers never accept accounting kindly. There will be resistance.
The text invites a "fire and brimstone" sermon, and if that is your bent - go for it. Just try to not be one of the false prophets who leads us astray.
Another tack might be to muse with your congregation upon the question the disciples asked:
What are the signs - in us, in our congregation, in our country - that God's Royal Proclamation is about to be accomplished?
David Ewart,
www.davidewart.ca
* Link to Amazon.com Bibliography for Bruce Malina, et. al., Social Science Commentary on ... The Synoptic Gospels; The Gospel of John; The Book of Acts; The Letters of Paul; The Book of Revelation; and others.
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