Don't be led astray

In what is quite a funny sketch from the classic sixties revue Beyond the Fringe the question is asked of a seer like figure with a very silly voice
When will it be this end of the world?

Readings for Sunday 14th November 2010, 25th Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 28: Isaiah 65:17-25 and [Isaiah 12 or Malachi 4:1-2a] and Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19

We have a sort of religious fascination with the end time.

Some religious people waste their time (in my opinion) trying to work out signs, codes and instructions for when this time will be (hence the comedy sketch)

rather missing the point of what all this talk of end time is all about.

The reading from Isaiah 65 today, does remind us

that there is always a sense in which God is restoring, creating and making

Behold I am making all things new...this is not just about the physical environment of religion

it is the driving force in life

constant renewal

reforging, readdressing reality.....we might say in a rather pedestrian way

Upgrading!

Getting in touch with reality

The little snippet from the correspondence to the church in Thessalonika,

what is today Greece's second largest city and the capital of Hellenic Macedonia,

is part of a church which struggles to understand just when this fullness that is prophesied,

and which is associated with the return of Jesus, will come

This is the earliest of the early church coming to grips with what Jesus was talking about

when he talked about bringing this new creation to reality

Paul is reminding them to continue living

because the working out of the kingdom

does not mean that we put our lives on hold

or give up our jobs so that we can pray more earnestly, or what ever.

So he is quite blunt

DON'T GIVE UP YOUR DAY JOB

All this is quite in line

with what Jesus tells us

though the early Christians had to learn this

They had to learn that far from being removed

from the everyday life we lead

the kingdom of God was to be found right among it.

Instead of withdrawing from the world

to find holiness

we are to discover the truth

that the kingdom of God is right here in our midst.

It will be where we feel most alive!

Where is that place for you? It may be surprising

but that is where we ought to look.

It will almost certainly not be in the religious box,

and it will be unpredictable

so, says Jesus, don't waste your time trying to predict it

when you should be engaging with it.

In that curious little snippet

when we are called to account for our faith

Jesus reminds us that we shouldn't look for the right answer

or the prepared answer

but rather look deep within

allow the very depth of our being to speak

We already know this to be true.

The kingdom is within each of the baptised

it is within and bubbling up

a spring of life.

Like the Thessalonians, and all Christians we have to learn to normalise this experience

to earth it

to tap into what gives us life already.

Where do you feel alive today?

Where is God inviting you to live the kingdom?

To drink from the fountain of living water?

To become the new creation!