August 26, 2015

And what I say to you, I say to all:  Watch
Mark 13:37, RSV

Jesus says these words to his disciples during Holy Week when people were asking him about the end of days.  “About that day or hour, no one knows . . . Keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come . . . Keep awake for you do not know when the master will come.”

Jesus is letting his disciples know that nobody knows when the end will come, so live every day as if it were your last.  Live every day as if Jesus were coming back today.  Or, like the bumper sticker says, “Jesus is coming back soon . . . Look busy.”

This little apocalyptic episode has a long tradition of being about “the end times,” or the end of days.  Not only is there a long tradition of reading this passage as looking forward to the end days, but it has also generated that kind of press in current times with books like Left Behind, rapture-ready websites, certain Evangelical preachers claiming the end is near (such as the ridiculous “blood moon” prophecies of John Hagee) or the current mini-hysteria generated by the claim that two asteroids are going to strike earth on September 22.

It's important to remember that apocalypse simply means a revealing or uncovering.  And in this apocalyptic portion of Mark, Jesus is pointing out that we need to be on guard, awake and watchful for the coming of the Lord because we don't know when that day will be revealed.

But it was this last line of the gospel reading from Tuesday's Morning Prayer service that caught my attention.  The version of the bible I use at MP is the Revised Standard Version.  Without getting into all kinds of technical stuff, there are some key differences between the RSV and the NRSV which we use for Sunday morning worship.  One of those differences is this last verse of Mark 13.

What stood out to me was that word, “Watch.”  It wasn't, “Keep awake.”  It wasn't, “Be on the alert!”  It was, “Watch.”

Watch for the revealing of God's kingdom.  Watch for the uncovering of God's kingdom.  God's kingdom is upon us.  The kingdom of God is at hand, but if we don't watch for it, we'll miss it.  The kingdom of God is near to us, but if we aren't watching, it might pass us by.

And just what are we watching for?  Watch for opportunities to love your neighbor, and then do so.  Watch for opportunities to proclaim justice, and do so.  Watch for opportunities to extend mercy, and do so.  Watch for opportunities to treat people with dignity and respect, and do so.  Watch for the beauty of the Lord in all things and marvel at his wondrous works.

The kingdom of God is near to you – Watch.

Amen.