Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 33:14–16 | Psalm 25:1–10 | 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13 | ​Luke 21:25–36

“Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28).

Are you ready?

I don’t often remember my dreams, but occasionally I will have one that stands out. Actually, it’s more of a recurring dream: in it, I find myself writing a math test… scrambling to finish what I know should be simple and straightforward, but still feeling completely lost… and worried that everything else in my life will now be somehow in jeopardy. I feel like I’m about to lose everything all because I didn’t prepare. 

But then I wake up and realize I haven’t taken a math class in over 20 years. That I’m not about to fail… and lose everything I care about. It’s all just a dream.

But even so, I’m left with the feeling that there’s things in my life that I’ve been neglecting… that something’s not in order… that there’s something I have been avoiding, and that I really should get on top of. Maybe I’ve been too distracted by other matters…or too discouraged by the fear of big challenges ahead… and so I’ve just been putting off something pretty important… a strategy which doesn’t tend to do me much good.

And so, even though it doesn’t leave me with a very pleasant feeling… these dreams can sometimes kind of serve as a wake-up call for me to stop putting things off. Reminding me to do what I can to be ready… to prepared for what I know is ahead of me… so that I can look forward, not simply with dread, but with some anticipation.

One thing I know many people around us are anticipating these days are the holidays. As all the stores and advertisements online remind us, Christmas is right around the corner… just over three weeks away. And if you’re like me, there’s still lots to do to get ready for it. Lots of details to straighten out. Lots of plans to finalize… and of course lots to look forward to. Like this afternoon, as we gather for our annual Parish All Ages Advent celebration… as well as the many other special traditions and events that this time of year has in store.

But of course, it’s important for us to remember not to rush too far ahead this time of year. There’s lots to do before Christmas to get ourselves ready, not only in practical ways… but in spiritual ways as well. 

As we know, today is the beginning of Advent, a season of preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ the Son of God… not just in the cradle in Bethlehem… but as the Crucified and Risen Saviour King, who is coming again to set God’s world right again, once and for all.

From the start, Advent is a season of anticipation… of looking forward… of preparation. Getting ready to take part not just in Christmas… but in the Kingdom of God.

But even though the Church has been in this state of anticipation and preparation for around two thousand years, Advent reminds us that what we are preparing for is not in our control, or bound by our own expectations. It requires us to pay attention… to remain engaged… to be willing to pivot, and adapt, and to be ready to do whatever needs doing… not sitting idle, or building our own little kingdoms. We’re called to always be ready.
But be ready for what? What are we waiting for? 

I can recall times when I heard the Christian hope talked about in ways that remind me a lot of that sinking feeling I’d get from my math-test dreams: a sense of deep urgency that I know I need to be ready, and even deeper sense of unease that I’m totally helpless and lost.

Sometimes we Christians can get so fixated on our own fears, and forget the Good News we’ve been entrusted with. We can talk about the need for ‘being ready’ as a way to scare ourselves, and each other, into ‘being good’… just making sure our own hands are clean, and becoming preoccupied with our own eternal security.

Now, you’re not going to hear me start advocating for getting your hands dirty… or to ignore the importance of having a clean conscience before God, or trying to live a life of true holiness. Quite the opposite. But I know that this kind of fear-focused approach to faith leads us only to spiritual self-centredness… and ends up encouraging us to start placing our hope in our own ability to ‘be good’. 

But as Christians, our hope always requires our active preparation, but our hope is never placed in our own preparations. Our hope is in the One we are preparing for! Our hope is in Jesus Christ, our Saviour King.

And our Scripture readings today call us to be ready… to be looking forward to Jesus’ return in ways that help us remain engaged in His Good Kingdom here and now.

In our first reading this morning from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah, we are reminded that despite how dark our circumstances may get, we really can place our hope in the Living God. 

Our reading takes place at a time when things weren’t looking all that great for God’s faithful prophet. Jeremiah was stuck in prison, unjustly persecuted for speaking out against Jerusalem’s unfaithful kings, priests, and leadership, and for prophesying that Babylon, who already had won a great victory against Jerusalem, and sent many into Exile, would indeed come back and utterly overthrow Judah, as the LORD God had commanded him to. 

And while other prophets were preaching peace, and Judah’s smooth recover and return to greatness, God had again assured Jeremiah that the Exile would not be ending anytime soon, but would in fact get worse. God’s people had turned their backs on the LORD and His ways, and so they would have to face the dark consequences of breaking faith with the Almighty One. 

Looking around him, and his bleak prospects, Jeremiah might have been tempted to give in… to give up taking his stand, and just try to get on with what was left of his life. When we face dark times, we too have to deal with these kinds of temptations. We can get discouraged by how things in our own lives and our world turn out in ways we had not anticipated. And we can be tempted to get too invested in things that don’t really matter… or get distracted by our own concerns, and forget about the gift of hope we have received. 

And God knows that about us. God knows we need something to hold onto. Something firm to stand on when our world is shaken. Something trustworthy and true to stay focused on when our troubles and cares demand all our attention.

And so God gives us what we need in times like these: He gives us His Word. He reminds us of His steadfast love… His complete faithfulness… and His promise to do what is right… and He calls us to trust Him. To put our faith and our hopes in Him to redeem and rescue us. 
 
And so, in that dark time, God also assures Jeremiah that this darkness will not be the end for God’s people. The LORD Himself will not abandon His promises: though in the days to come, it may seem to all like Jerusalem’s royal line and priesthood would fail, God would raise up His people again. Beyond all hope, He would raise them up.

Jeremiah 33:10-11, “Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without human beings or animals,’ in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without inhabitants, human or animal, there shall once more be heard the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord: 
“Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, 
for the Lord is good, 
for his steadfast love endures forever!” 
For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.”

And then as we heard this morning in Jeremiah 33:14-16, “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The Lord is our righteousness.'”
 
The Lord is our righteousness.

At the right time, the Living God would raise up a righteous descendant of King David… One who would set things right once and for all, and bring God’s salvation to His people. 

Now Jeremiah Himself would not live to see these words fulfilled. But he would hold onto this hope in his darkest moments, and pass it on to others who trusted in it too. And one day, God did raise up One from David’s line who did bring God’s promised salvation to the world.  

Turning now to our reading from the Gospel of Luke, and the word of Jesus Christ our Lord, warning His disciples, back then and today, about the dark times that lay ahead of them.

As His own time of suffering drew close, Jesus saw serious challenges ahead for His disciples. He knew they would face lots of discouragement and reasons to doubt… And He warned them against becoming distracted from their mission by alarming events in the world… or tripped up by the many pressures and preoccupations of everyday life.

And so, Jesus calls them, and those of us who belong to Him today, to be ready… to not give in to the distractions, or to despair when things got dark… but instead, when everything seems to be falling apart, He says to us: “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28). 

And Jesus did not just talk about this kind of hope. He lived it. He embodied it. He was fully prepared to face death for us… placing His hope in His Heavenly Father’s steadfast love, which is even stronger than death. 

Jesus faithfully endured the horrors of the cross for us all, laying down His sinless life to rescue us and our world from the powers of darkness, and to bring us the gift of His freedom and forgiveness, made possible through His blood shed for us. And His hope did not disappoint!

Christian hope is Christ-shaped hope: hope, not that we will somehow manage to avoid suffering and evil in this life, but that the life-giving love of God is able to save us from its power, and to raise us up with Jesus to share in God’s holy love forever.

And in our second reading this morning, St. Paul shows us what that kind of hope looks like in practice… what it means to get ready and be ready for the coming of our Saviour.

1 Thessalonians 11:13, “Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

Our hope in Christ our Saviour is expressed… is practiced through sharing in His holy love together. Through Christians gathering for fellowship, and learning together, and worshipping together… Not as a distraction from, or as a denial of, the many difficulties around us, and indeed ahead of us… but as a way of sharing in the life of God’s Good Kingdom even now, through God’s Spirit at work in us… and of encouraging one another to stand firm in the Good News we have been entrusted with: the Good News that, no matter how dark the night might get, the glorious day of the Lord will dawn, and our Redeemer, Jesus, the Saviour King, will return to set this world right.

Being ready for Christ’s return is not a call to panic and obsess over the state of ourselves… but to actively put away all that might keep us from sharing God’s holy love with one another, and with those all around us. There is no cosmic pop quiz waiting for us, but there are His commands already made known: to love God, to love one another, and to let God’s holy love have its way in us today.

So today, as we enter into the season of Advent together: may we place our hope in the steadfast love of the Living God for our messed up world, and in Christ’s promise to return to set it right again once and for all. 

May this hope help us to keep our heads held high… not trying to deny the darkness around us, but empowering us to stand firm against it… focused on remaining faithful to our Saviour, and walking in His ways until He returns.

And may this hope help us to get ready, and stay ready for eternity… to do what we can to strengthen and encourage one another… in worship, fellowship, and mutual support. And through God’s Holy Spirit, may this hope help us to put God’s holy love into practice here and now… committed to keeping alive the light of the Gospel in our dark and despairing world… so that those all around us may also come to know the Good News of Jesus our Saviour King. Amen.

Today we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent: a season of anticipation and preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, both in His birth at Christmas, and in His future return to reign forever over a renewed creation.

Each week in Advent, we reflect on an important aspect of the Christian life as we wait faithfully for our Saviour, and serve His kingdom even now. The first Sunday of Advent, we reflect on the theme of Hope.


Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, and Sermon can be found here:

Scripture Readings: Daniel 7:1-18 | Psalm 93 | Revelation 1:4-8 | John 18:33-38

“Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’” (John 18:37).

Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Christian year, commemorating the reign of Jesus our Lord. It is an important celebration for us for many reasons, especially at times when there is deep  
confusion about what it really means to call Christ King… and what it means for those of us who follow Him to serve Him faithfully.

After all, not all who claim the name of Christ end up truly serving His Kingdom. Over the centuries, many have mixed up their own agendas with the mission of God.

One clear example of this from the last century was the so-called German Christian movement in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s, which gained widespread support among many people of faith, and preached the wholesale realignment of the Christian Church with Nazi ideology… and making loyalty to their Leader… Adolf Hitler, the epitome of doing God’s will. 

We can also see this confusion and distortion at work in the operations of Christian Nationalist groups in our day… movements that try to establish the Kingdom of God in their own countries by seizing political power and influence to bring about God’s Kingdom by force… inevitably ending up betraying Christ and abandoning His ways in the process.

There are countless ways that our faith can, and has been, co-opted over the years. Which is why it’s so important for Christians today to have a clear-headed understanding of the Gospel: of who Jesus Christ is, and what He is doing… and what He is calling us to do in His name. And so, the Feast of Christ the King calls us to regularly reconsider our assumptions about how God’s Kingdom comes about… how we can share in it.

In our Gospel reading this morning, we jump right in to a clash of Kingdoms: we hear Jesus being questioned by Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea, serving as the representative of Caesar, the head of the most powerful and influential Empire the world had yet come to know.

And in this encounter, Pilate can’t seem to make sense of Jesus. He can’t seem to understand why our Lord isn’t trying to avoid the horrible fate that is laying before Him.

Pilate knows all about power games. He understands the cut-throat competitions for influence, and jealous rivalries at work in so many societies. He can see that Jesus is actually innocent of the charges brought against Him by Jerusalem’s religious leaders… and that their calls for His execution have no legitimate basis.

But then Pilate hears that Jesus is called a King of the Jews… which is clearly a claim of authority and power… which must then be put in its ‘proper place’ under the absolute authority and power of Caesar in Rome and his subordinates.

But when asked about His supposed kingship, Jesus responds by challenging everything that Pilate thought he knew about real power and authority.

“Jesus answered, ‘My Kingdom is not from this world.’” (John 18:36).

Notice that He doesn’t say that His Kingdom has no place in this world… as if it only exists somewhere out there, disconnected from the daily realities of earthly life. He’s not claiming that His Kingdom has no authority or power here and now. 

No, He says His Kingdom is not from this world. It doesn’t arise from here, or rely on the world’s ways of doing things. It is not just another earthly realm. The kingdoms of the world lean on the threat of violence as the basis for their authority… their rulers rely on coercion and force, or manipulation to get their way. For example, the Roman Empire bragged about being the bringers of peace, but they could only do so by swiftly bringing the sword against any who might dare to defy them.

And we can see these same approaches at work in modern societies as well. Some countries use explicit violence and oppression to keep their subjects in line. Some rely more on coercion, manipulation, and political power games to get their way. But whatever tactics are being deployed, the general agenda is the same: people desire power, so they do whatever it takes to take it… even if it means crushing others in order to get it.

This is what the Romans, and so many other kingdoms of the world have done. But Christ is not that kind of King! So where does Christ’s Kingdom come from then? Where does its power and influence arise from, if not through earthly violence and force?

Our first reading today from the book of Daniel offers us an incredibly important glimpse into how Christ understood the basis of His Kingship, and how it must come about.

In Daniel Chapter 7, we hear one of the prophet’s visions, experienced at one of the lowest points in Israel’s story… after Jerusalem had fallen, after the Temple of God had been destroyed, and what was left of His covenant people were carried away into Exile by the most powerful kingdom in their day: Babylon… a violent, prideful Empire bent on forcing all others to bend their knees, and bow to their obvious greatness.

In Daniel’s vision, he sees a series of great kingdoms depicted as terrifying beasts… inhuman monsters capable of great ruin… the most fearsome of which ends up trampling on God’s people… crushing them beyond all earthly hope.

But then suddenly God Almighty, the true Lord of All, brings an end to these beastly rulers, and raises up those who were crushed by the beasts, to reign with Him in glory.

It’s a vision of great hope for Israelites like Daniel, who were still suffering in Exile… hope that the Living God would not abandon His people. Regardless of how vicious and powerful the kingdoms of the world may be, or how low their own circumstances might become, this was a message that in the end, God Himself would set things right, and they would be raised up to reign with Him.

Daniel’s vision was a powerful reminder for God’s people to place their hope and trust in the LORD… to remain faithful to His ways… and to not get swept up by the ways of the beasts.

For the only lasting victory over the beasts is the LORD’s own doing… it cannot be achieved by the might or power, of God’s people, trying to raise themselves up against their enemies, but only by the Almighty’s intervention, striking at the heart of evil’s power in ways that no earthly force could ever do… disarming evil for good.

Here we must turn to our second reading today from the book of Revelation. Here’s another plug for our Bible Study on Tuesday afternoons. We’ve spent the last eight weeks working through Revelation, and we’ve just reached verse eight last week! Clearly, there’s a lot going on in this book, which we won’t have time to get into today. But join us on Tuesday afternoons, and you might be surprised by the Good News this book has to share.

Just as a reminder: the book of Revelation is not simply a depiction of the end… it is a view of human history offered from God’s perspective… a vision revealing the truth of our world that’s often hidden from our eyes… and that the powerful kingdoms of our day actively deny.

This passage we read today is really just setting the stage for the rest of Revelation, introducing the key melodies that will be picked up and explored in greater depth, tying together important themes of the Gospel that run all throughout the Scriptures.

But to keep it short, the key point of this passage for this morning is the nature of God’s ultimate victory over evil… not just over the Babylonians, or Greeks, or Romans… but over every beastly Empire that will raise itself up and trample on the innocent. God’s Kingdom will overcome them, not by playing their games… not by coercion or force, or political maneuvering, or manipulation… but by the power of the cross.

This victory is won by what Jesus Christ Himself has already done, disarming the power of all evil, through His own death… and through His resurrection… and through His coming again.

He disarms the lies that prop up all these beastly kingdoms by being the faithful witness… the One who remained steadfast in the truth, exposing the world’s injustice, greed, violence, and pride as merely self-destructive delusions.

He disarms the fear of death, as the firstborn from the dead… who suffered the very worst physical fate that anyone could throw at Him. But three days later, He rose again, conquering the grave forever for those who trust in Him. 

And He disarms the power of all others who claim to be the masters of our lives, and the final authorities we are to pay our allegiance to… for Jesus Christ alone is the true ruler of the kings of the earth… He alone has been raised to God the Father’s right hand, and all other earthly rulers will one day be called to account before His throne to answer for everything that they have done. 

And in addition to disarming all these powers at work in our world… disarming the lies, and the fears, and the false-claims over our lives that bring about so much destruction, Christ also shows us how we are to serve within His good Kingdom. Revelation 1:5-6,
“To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.”

We share in and serve in His Kingdom through faith in the Good News: by trusting in the love of Christ our King, who will never abandon us, no matter how hard things might get. By trusting in the gracious forgiveness and freedom He achieved for us by shedding His blood at the cross. And by trusting that through His Holy Spirit at work in us, we are being remade in His own likeness… empowered to share in His glorious ministry and reign with Him forever!  

Trusting that, with Him we are able to stand for the truth… even if it goes against the expectations of all those around us. Trusting that with Him we are able to face death faithfully, because Christ’s victory over the grave and everlasting life will also be ours. Trusting that, with Him we are able to stay true to God’s Kingdom, and to resist the many temptations to play along with the beasts at work today… remembering that Christ’s Kingdom may not be from this world… but it is for this world!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16-18).

This is God’s victory. This is our victory. One not achieved through violence or force… or political power games. But through the rescuing… reconciling… resurrecting love of the Living God, revealed once and for all in Jesus Christ our Saviour King. 

So let us rejoice in His steadfast love! Let us trust and believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and all that He has done to save us and our world. Let us stay true to Him… walking in His ways, and listening to His voice… as we await His coming again, and the fulness of His good Kingdom. Amen. 

​​And our Songs can be found here:

Scripture Readings: Daniel 12:1–3 | Psalm 16 | Hebrews 10:11-25 | Mark 13:1–8

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23).

What does our hope rest upon?

Like many people around the world, in these past two weeks I’ve had to experience and come to grips with some serious disappointment and discouragement. I try not to talk to much about my own political positions from the pulpit… mostly because my views aren’t all that important in the grand scheme of things. 

We don’t gather here each week to listen to my opinions… or my grand pronouncements… but to try to listen together to God’s word to us all: to be transformed together by the Good News of Jesus Christ, shared with us throughout the Bible, and to worship Him alone… receiving the gift of His new life, in word and sacrament… His saving grace offered to us all, through faith in Him.

But in reflecting on our Scripture passages today, it seems to me that the events of these last few weeks… the results of the American election, and the reactions that many have had to it… are being addressed in a relevant and meaningful way, and might actually help us reflect on the bigger picture of what biblical hope is all about.

As I said, I was personally disappointed by the results of the American election. Specifically, how so many people chose to entrust such significant power and influence over the lives of millions of people, in their own country and around the world, to someone with such deeply suspect character, and openly self-serving plans and motives.
A great part of my disappointment comes from the fact that so many of our fellow Christian brothers and sisters have rallied around him… and seem to see him as chosen by God to bring about a “greater” and more “faithful” America.

To these kinds of claims, my mind goes to places like Matthew Chapter 7:15-20, and the words of our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20).

Now before I start getting too self-righteous here, we need to remember: this is a warning for everyone… not just directed at those who we disagree with. These words apply to us all! And so, while we need to beware of people using our faith to lead us astray, we also must take care that we don’t find ourselves producing bad fruit of our own.

All this is to say that I, and a lot of people are disappointed by how the election turned out, and are also concerned about what this all will mean for the future of our world. But that should really be no surprise: after all every election leaves lots of people feeling disappointed. It’s kind of how democracy works: one party or candidate wins, and others lose. Every single time, someone’s dreams are dashed, and some are achieved. 

And this uncertain reality actually offers us a pretty good life lesson: Maybe the world's hopes… maybe our hopes shouldn’t be resting on something as changeable as the opinions of American voters.

Decisive moments in life, like elections, often shine a spotlight on where our hopes really rest... and thankfully, our Scripture readings today call us to reflect on where we have set our hopes… as well as inviting us to place our trust in what is… or who is truly unshakeable. 

In our reading today from the Gospel of St. Mark, we hear some challenging and perhaps frightening words from our Lord, that certainly shook His first followers, and has the power to keep doing so today. 

This passage is just a small part of a long section of Jesus’ teachings, found also in Matthew and Luke, that tend to activate a lot of our own hopes and fears about the fate of our world, and what the future holds for us all.

Those of us who have been taking part in our Bible Study on the Book of Revelation this Fall might remember that this passage has a deeply prophetic purpose and meaning within the story of Jesus, helping us see what He’s up to.

And these words remain very relevant for us today, but not as some collection of cryptic clues to be pulled out of context to help us try and puzzle out an exact roadmap for the events of the ‘end times’. Many still use Jesus’ words that way, and it tends to lead to some strange conclusions that often run counter to the Good News of Jesus Christ that we His followers have been entrusted with.  

This is why it's so important for us to try to understand what Jesus is speaking about in His own context long before we try to apply His words directly to our own day… trusting that this is how God’s Spirit sheds His light on our own situations.

And so, in this passage, we find Jesus preparing His followers for some dramatic events in their not-to-distant future… warning them about the dangers ahead, while also offering them hope. Not the hope that believers will somehow be whisked away from all the troubles of the world… but a hope that can help them, and you and I, to persevere when we must face those troubles.

In short: Jesus is challenging the false-hopes of His followers, so that we can place our hope in what will endure.

The passage begins with our Lord’s disciples admiring the grandeur and glory of the Holy Temple of the Lord, the Living God, in the heart of Jerusalem. This Temple was built by King Herod… a puppet king of the powerful Emperors in Rome… on the site of Solomon’s Temple, which had been destroyed long ago by Babylon.

King Herod built many wonderful buildings in his day, including the Temple, always eager to show off his power and greatness and win the admiration of others. In fact, Herod was not really known for his devotion… he used projects like rebuilding the Temple for political gain, and to win influence over his subjects… trying to buy their loyalty by giving them what they want, and making a show of supporting the faithful.

And like most of the people in their day, Jesus’ disciples were deeply impressed with what Herod had done, and for what it meant for the future of their people. After centuries of being kicked around by one empire after another after the Exile, they were now able to worship and practice their faith in ways that made sense to them. Their holy city was no longer a ruin, but was becoming a proud centre of life once again. How could they not look with wonder on the Temple… this tangible sign of God’s presence with them. How could they not get excited, especially now that the Messiah, their rabbi had come. Soon Jesus would set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem, and everything would be wonderful.

But as it turns out, even the disciples were looking for hope in the wrong places. 

Mark 13:1-2, “As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” (Mark 13:1-2).

Not. One. Stone. 
All will be thrown down.

Far from being a sign of God's favour, Jesus says the Temple built by Herod was bound for destruction. It would all come crashing down, shattering all hopes of a return of the glory days of King David… or a seamless, painless transition into the eternal Messianic Kingdom. And far from sharing in their hopes, Jesus seemed to be pointing towards a return to their people’s worst nightmare: a return to the horrors of Exile.

At one of the lowest points in the story of God’s people, the armies of Babylon had defeated Jerusalem, centuries before… leveling the grand Temple that King Solomon had built, and devastating the city. At that time, it seemed like all hope was lost for Israel.

But even in that lowest moment, the Living God did not abandon His covenant people, even though their unfaithfulness and folly had brought the Exile upon them. And God had kept hope alive for those in Exile through faithful prophets like Daniel, who had to learn how to live under the power of proud and ungodly rulers, while staying true to the LORD. Learning how to be faithful to the Living God, even when that put them in harms way.

And in His mercy, God brought His people through this time of Exile, and brought them back home again to the land He had promised them… something they could never have achieved on their own.

And now… after centuries of struggle, and rebuilding, and waiting for God’s Messiah and Kingdom to come… expectations were high that God’s final victory over their enemies must be drawing near at last.  

But rather than feeding these hopes, Jesus points instead to a time soon to come when His followers would see the Temple, the Holy City Jerusalem, and all that seemed so sure and promising brought low again.

Not. One. Stone. 
All will be thrown down.
 
Mark 13:4-8, “Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”

And Jesus will go on to speak of armies surrounding Jerusalem… and that all those who could flee should do so without delay. He speaks of terrible suffering… and tragic circumstances… including the persistent persecution of His followers… and warning of deep betrayals, tearing families apart because of Him. Mark 13:12-13, “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:12-13).

Did you hear that last part? The one who endures to the end will be saved. The hope is not in avoidance… but endurance… in remaining faithful, no matter what comes. 

And all these things did come about: Jerusalem fell to Roman armies, and the Temple was destroyed mere decades after Jesus said these words.

Just as He said, other charismatic would-be Messiahs called for armed uprisings against Rome, and after a few years of rebellion, Caesar sent in his legions to completely crush Jerusalem.

Now if Christ’s disciples had placed their hopes on a building… however sacred it may have seemed… their hopes would have been completely crushed.

And if His disciples had placed their hopes in the establishment of a stable and secure society, shaped by leaders claiming to be in line with the will of God, they would have been put to shame.

In His mercy, Jesus challenges the false-hopes that even His followers had: He knew God's Kingdom was not going to arrive in the way that they had hoped… and perhaps, the way that you and I would have hoped.

Instead, Jesus invites us all to place our hope in Him… He says to us: ‘trust in Me… be faithful to Me, even when everything else is falling apart… place your hope in what I am up to… what I am doing… and if you do, you will truly get to see God's glory!’

At another decisive moment in Jesus' story, He would stand before the High Priest Caiaphas, and the Jewish Elders. He would be falsely accused of many things… but one charge stands out: some claimed that Jesus said He would destroy the Temple that Herod built, and rebuild it in three days. To those in charge, Jesus was seen as a challenge to how their whole society and faith operated. The things that Jesus was saying and doing was threatening everything that they had hoped to preserve… especially their way of life centred around the Temple. 

But Jesus had not been speaking about the Temple that Herod had built… Jesus meant the Temple of His own body… the Truest Meeting Place between Heaven and Earth. Jesus knew His own people would reject Him… publicly shame Him… and execute Him as someone apparently accursed by God. Jesus knew that those who opposed Him would destroy His body… would cast it down and crush it at the cross… devastating the dreams of everyone who loved and followed Him.

But He also knew that three days later, He would rise again! He knew that in Him, God's unshakable Kingdom could never be overthrown.

The Good News of Jesus, the Crucified and Resurrected Saviour of our world, calls into question so many false hopes… but it offers us something far greater: God’s eternal life, which Jesus has already won for us.

He is our great High Priest, who has dealt with our sins and failures once and for all through His atoning sacrifice. He is the true meeting place, the Temple where we can encounter the life-changing love of God, and be filled with the power of His own Holy Spirit. 

In a world full of false hopes, and tempting voices trying to lead us astray… Jesus Christ alone is our hope. He is the One who holds our future… and He is the One who holds us today… helping us to endure, whatever comes.

So, where have we placed our hope? 

Are their still some false hopes we have been holding onto, trusting in people or things that will not endure? 

Our buildings and institutions will not last forever. But God's Kingdom will.

Our leaders and society will all one day be shaken. But our fellowship in the Holy Spirit is truly unstoppable.

Our careers, our homes, our hobbies, our families, even our lives will all one day come to an end. But in Jesus, the Crucified and Resurrected King of Kings, we have the promise of eternal life, and an invitation to share in His glory without end.

Jesus Christ is our only Lord. The only One who we can truly place all our hopes in, and not be put to shame. 

What he did for us all, once and for all, at the cross has set the course and destiny of our world. Nations will rage, and evil may run rampant for a time… but their end will come. And His victory… the victory of God’s saving love won at the cross will be made complete.

Until then, we are called to remain true to Jesus, our Saviour King. To place our faith, and love, and hope in Him… whatever comes.

I’ll close now with a passage from our reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (10:19-25):

“Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Amen.

​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

Scripture Readings: Micah 4:1-7 | Psalm 46 | Romans 12:15-21 | Matthew 5:38-48

“If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18).

What’s the bravest thing you ever had to do?

Life is full of moments that call for bravery… for remaining steadfast and choosing to act with courage, and commitment in the face of danger and fear. 

It might mean standing up for what we believe in… or standing up to people we need to confront. It might mean having to take on new and challenging responsibilities… or simply having to accept some difficult news… for ourselves, or for those we love.

For a lot of people, public speaking requires a lot of bravery… and I’ll admit, when I was a young man, first feeling the call to ministry in the Church, the thought of being a pastor… offering sermons and leading others in worship each week… was a pretty daunting thought, and it took me a long time to feel at home doing this.

Each of us will have our own moments when we will need to be brave. When the way forward will be hard, but will bring us to where we truly belong.

As we know, tomorrow is Remembrance Day, a day set aside to commemorate those who have served their countries in the armed forces… those from our families and communities who have faced the horrors of war for us… many of whom lost their lives, or returned wounded in mind, body, or spirit.

It is important that we take this time to remember them, and what they have done for us… to honour their courage… their steadfast bravery… choosing to face danger and fear, and risk their lives for the sake of others.

We take this time each November to remember in the hopes that such sacrifices would not be required again… not to glorify war and violence, but to seek ways to find true and lasting peace. To strive for a future where war is a distant memory for all. 

Sadly, we know all too well today that many around the world are still faced with the horrors of war… including many civilians who had no choice in the matter. We remember the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, as they defend their homeland from an invasion from Russia. We remember the devastation in Gaza and Lebanon, as the Israeli Defense Forces seek to defeat Hamas and Hezbollah, while thousands of civilians have lost their lives, their homes, and their whole communities have been laid waste as a result.

All across our world, conflicts and tensions keep on growing, leaving many of us afraid of what is to come… uncertain of what lies ahead. 

In times like this, it’s good to step back and remember that there have been troubling times before. And that, those who have gone before us have faced uncertain times, but have found a way forward all the same. We do well to remember the examples of those soldier who faced the horrors of the great wars… we can be inspired by their steadfastness… and dedication to their country’s cause… their courage in the face of uncertainty and danger.

But as inspiring as their examples and stories can be, those of us who are Christians have an even greater source of hope: we are called to remember the Good News of Jesus Christ… to remember the hope found in the story of Scripture… hope we heard in our readings today from the Bible… we are called to remember God’s story, which is still at work in our world today.

We heard the ancient poetic words of hope shared from the Prophet Micah, and the author of Psalm 46: reminding generations of believers that even when all seems lost… when the mountains themselves are thrown into the sea… and everything that seemed stable and secure is shaken, the Living God will not abandon our world… that God Himself will bring wars to cease in all the earth, breaking the bow, and shattering the spear… and bringing back those who are scattered to where we belong: together, and at peace. Freed from all oppression, and injustice, and fear. This vision of God’s majesty and might setting things right, and opening up an entirely different way of life… the way of peace. 

In our Gospel reading today, we heard the words of Jesus Himself, calling those of us who trust in Him to live this way even now… to set aside our own desires for revenge, or divisiveness driven by fear, and instead to follow Him in the way of peace… practicing forgiveness today in a world full of hate. Practicing patience with others today in a world that demands instant results. Practicing goodness today towards all… even those we see as deeply mistaken, and even led by evil intentions. Loving our enemies, even when… especially when… it comes with a cost.  

Jesus Himself knew well the cost of seeking peace… He remained steadfast in the face of injustice and suffering… bravely facing His own death at the cross, in order to bring hostilities to cease between the Living God, and all humanity… and inviting us all to experience the freedom and new life that comes from God’s forgiveness and grace. 

The way of Jesus, the way of peace is not an easy road to follow. Not by a long-shot. It really does require steadfastness… dedication… and courage to live this way today. To arm ourselves, not with weapons of war, but with a commitment to this whole new way of life… being willing to stand up and stand out, like a candle in a dark room, so that those around us can start to see that there really is another way forward for our world. That with God’s help, we can really be another way together. 

In our reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Christians in Rome, we heard him offer a glimpse of what this way looks like in practice: Romans 12:15-18,

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” 

This doesn’t mean that we have to agree with or support what everyone around us or around our world is up to… and there will still be times when we will need to be brave and confront evil through our words and actions. But even so, the way of Jesus does challenge us never to turn our backs on or demonize others… even those we deeply disagree with… to write them off as our enemies, even if they see us that way.

Instead, we are called to overcome evil with good. To live lives of faithfulness, hope, and love, trusting that the Living God will be at work in, around, and through us to bring about His lasting peace. 

Now I know not all of us here today are necessarily Christians… followers of Jesus Christ. But I believe that all of us can see that our world really does need to find another way forward. And that way won’t just happen on its own. It will require people like us to put it into practice. To strive to be steadfast… dedicated… and courageous as we face the future together. Seeking not just our own wellbeing, but the lasting peace of our world.

May the Living God help us all to face our own uncertain days bravely… steadfast and dedicated not just to winning wars, but to forging a way forward for us all… that the world around us may begin to experience a taste of true peace… learning to live together, and to love one another… even when we disagree. 

I’ll close now with the words of a well known prayer:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that we may not so much seek
​to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

​And our Songs can be found here:

This past Saturday at Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton, Anglican Clergy and Lay Delegates from across New Brunswick attended our 139th Diocesan Synod.

We heard about many ways in which our people and Parishes are at work in our diverse communities, as well as inspiring and challenging words from our Archbishop, the Most Rev'd David Edwards.

In place of a sermon this week, we will be attending to The Bishop's Charge, which is his call and challenge to us as we seek to serve God's Kingdom together in our communities.

Our service of Morning Prayer and Bulletin for this week can be found here:

​​And our Songs for this week can be found here: