Pentecost 25
Malachi 4:1-2a
Psalm 98
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Luke 21:5-19
There is a painting at the
It is called “Tennyson” and
is by Jasper Johns.
At first glance the large
canvas is simply textured gray. With the
word “Tennyson” inscribed at the bottom and some cream and tiny hints of color
below. I’ll send around the postcard.
But then, going off to the
side you can see inside this gray cover, like a book, and it is a glimpse of riot
of color.
It would be easy to just see
the gray canvas and move on, assume that that is all there is to the
artwork. But look closely, look deeply,
look around the corner…and life explodes.
Now, I don’t know the
history behind this artwork. I do know its
emotional impact.
It has stuck with me and it
was spring break last year when I saw it.
The world can look as
gray. War and rumors
of war, insurrections around the world.
Great earthquakes, famines and plagues. Our sons and daughters continue to arrive
home in body bags. Violence is still
the focus of the news, even locally.
It’s the end of the world as we know it.
Some things in human history
haven’t changed. The atmosphere of fear
in the world of Jesus day is still present in our world. The looking for signs of the end still
engages great groups of folks.
Remember the end of the last
century? The end of
time panic and preparations?
Paul’s audience in
Thessalonica is caught up in that same drama.
Christ is coming soon! But
instead of following the admonition to look busy, they are kicking back, relaxing, relying on others to feed them because,
hey, what’s the use of working if Christ
is coming soon?
Paul is frustrated by that
and encourages people, not to get caught up in the good old Protestant work
ethic, but to keep busy, quietly working for the good of the community. Be awake and alert,
do not be weary in doing what is right.
That gray world that makes
you want to go back to bed, or to give up participating in the world, is not so gray when
you get engaged, when you become a part of a larger community working for,
praying for, seeing the world in color.
And look, around the corner,
even when the odds seem to be against it, hope blooms! The world erupts in joy and even in the
midst of death comes new life.
So on the one hand we have
the Thessalonians’, checking out early.
Kicking back with the remote to wait for the end
times. On the other hand we have
the disciples who are living under oppression, a time of great poverty and
stress. Now following Jesus, who they hope is
going to overthrow the Roman government and bring peace. But today…
The disciples are wandering
about clueless again. The rural boys are
staring at the magnificent temple in
I bet Jesus is impressed too!!
Yet, Jesus warns, this temple will be destroyed. Not one stone will be left upon
another. And this happens. (Actually, the Gospel of Luke was written
long after the event)
The monuments made with
human hands try to ward off evil, try show off human
accomplishments, become the center of
life for a while.
But then, they all fall
down, victims of time and chance, war and revolt. Leaving only ruins behind, like Easter Island, the
Life is nothing but gray for
the people of
But wait, look! Even in this is hope. For now folks have to rely on a God that is
not bound by a building. All along
Jesus has been telling folks that you can worship God anywhere, doesn’t have to
be at the downtown Cathedral. The early
Christians worshipped in houses. Or in catacombs, or outside.
And though great church
architecture seeks to be a reflection of the glory of God, ours a reflection of
the flood story, the glory of God is seen not in the walls and windows, but in
the community.
That is were the color
lies. In the gathering of believers and
doubters in one place, with a need to worship and trust a God bigger then
themselves, greater that the powers of this world, more lasting than our finest
buildings.
Sometimes, when the world
seems gray, we
still straggle into this place, and look
around the corner of the visible world.
And see a glimpse of the riot of color.
The color
of the new heaven and new earth already alive here and now not yet revealed in
all its glory.
So do not be afraid. Do not grow weary in doing what is right.
Stand firm. Don’t be afraid of the gray days, the gray news, the
gray of the world.
Stand firm, And be ready to testify. To point out to the world around you, the
people around you, to
point out what lies around the corner,
past the curve, on the other side
of the bend.
Look deeply into life, with the eyes of
God. And live. Not blindly, not ignoring the trials and
tribulations, but engaged with the
powers. Wrestling with solutions, holding up those
whose lives seem to be nothing but gray.
For the end is here, the
beginning of the end, one that promises
new life, new hope, colors that we can’t even imagine.
This is what gives us the
strength, the energy to live in the world.
To be a part of this present life. To not be overwhelmed with war, insurrection, famine and
earthquake.
But to live as what we do
and what we believe makes a difference.
So let us be colorful
people…engaged in the world. Trusting in the Lord to give us words and tasks and hope to share.