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Time is Near
The time is near, Jesus declared 2020 years ago.
He referred to That time when the world would shake like a hurricane and the things we trusted would be un-trustable, when what we eat no longer nourishes us, and what we know is about all that is left that we can trust - whom we trust, how we would be able to trust, and how we can stand up for and keep strong in what we believe when everything is falling apart around us. And ironically, faith, the foundation of our lives, will be out of whack, will not be the boulder that holds most of us up, so many will give up and think there is no God who father’s us. Is this already in progress?
 What means the time is near? It has obviously been creeping close from the time the New Testament was written - of course this would depend on your own theories about creation - was it 8-10,000 years ago as so many Baptist faiths insist or was it, as science and anthropology confirm that the earth formed as a result of a big bang - like God clapped his hands or blew in the air like a sneeze and just declared it was and it became what God wanted - and the earth began, maybe a ball burning like a meteorite or a pinch of fire off the sun, that eventually calmed down so that creatures began to come alive as the air blew across the fires, and molecules began to settle on the surface and life and then intelligence began.
Jesus knew what was coming, how mankind would take over and rule like they were gods and try to deceive and claim powers and taxes and all sorts of wars and thoughts of wars - because power is what counts - and winning and frightening those who dare speak against them is fist ready to give an uppercut to anyone outside the box. In Mark 13, Jesus warns us about those days when the moon and the stars and the powers in the heavens won’t be working right. But we cannot dose off. We must keep awake and be prepared, as the angels will start gathering things together.
It seems we are close to the very time Jesus was discussing with his apostles. He was warning them - don’t get caught up, don’t get dragged into something that is not what they know, that is evil or wrong. Don’t fear that God will abandon them. Don’t make stupid decisions and— just don’t give up. It’s kind of scary - and one wonders if one can survive such a war and challenge. Jesus said worry not in advance about how we will testify.
We will have that opportunity - and He will give us the words and wisdom because everyone we may trust will be against us and even betray us. As a priest, when I sit down to write these sermons, I feel that God is already telling me what to say - because I don’t know where the words or the thoughts come from.
Jesus early followers were already gathering in an effort to survive whatever drama or earthly termination might take place. We may have tornados and hurricanes and cyclones and massive fires today -but they will surely get more dramatic, more violent, more deadly every year as the results of the way we for centuries have tried to make ourselves happy on this earth and ignored the order by God to take care of God’s land and animals and rivers and deserts -
If there was a slow beginning that took place over millions of years, will there be a slow dissolving into nothingness as man destroys the elements and the life-giving forces which God has provided for us, but which mankind has abused and destroyed by not taking care of the environment?
We don’t know, nor can we predict what is our future. And surely Jesus, when he was trying to clean up the Jewish faith, which had become too restricted and abusive in power, wanted to show that all men and women are loved by God no matter how they behave - although probably frustrated and disappointed at the stubbornness of men and man’s leadership, - He still fought on because He loves us - all of us - no matter what our personality, attitude or choices.
Everything changes. I’m sure Jesus would be in shock if He came back today and saw the cruel and sloppy way man rules this earth, not only how leaders rule but how man uses and abuses all the possibilities of goodness, of a good life, of a healthy existence- which can’t survive long when people smoke, drink to drunkenness, abuse medicines and drugs of all sort, physically beat each other and children and have no respect for anything - from the gas we put in our cars, to the water with which we brush our teeth. Most of us have so many privileges that we ignore the suffering of others
Why do we judge people by color? Do we think God would even think about that? If I were an angel of God trying to report to God about earth - I’d put the Africans first. They have the kind of honest, everyday faith that so many of us lack. Too many of us in the catholic system that for 2000 years acted as if only we know God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but do we? Do we suffer sufficiently that God can rescue us and right or wrong?
I’ve been blessed by Pope Francis, Buddhist monks, the Dalai Lama’s right-hand assistant, a new young designated Buddha in training, a Shaman in China, a Coptic priest in Egypt, and a Muslim Inman. It all counts. I believe we all have God in us, around us, and with us - if we just open our hearts and see that we are all alike, all one - with similar problems, pains, and prayers - because when the world ends and God takes us in his arms, we are all going to be crunched together no matter who we are, what we dress in, who we look like, color of skin — it’s not going to matter!!!!! It will be such a gathering of souls that God will enlighten and weave us together in a big heart where we will be surrounded by all that we love or have loved us.
Jesus warns us - it’s gonna be tough, but don’t get worried because we who believe, who love, who trust our faith, we who may not be perfect, who have broken the Big 10, but at least acknowledge our errors and have begged for pardon, and we who maybe have not dealt with our sins but still - it won’t matter. God will give us all a chance. We will have redemption and we will know Love as we have never known it in our lives. Just don’t give up. Sometimes it seems as though we are in probably the deepest hole we could be in for these days. Politics are a disaster. Human relations are terrible. People are greedy, evil, selfish, self-serving, Kids are without respect or knowledge of how to communicate with each other and worse, with adults, who become the enemy because they try to uphold standards of correctness and respect.
What excites me about Jesus is he didn’t cater to the high priests and power-mongers of the Jewish faith. Not even the Pharisees or Sadducees nor kings nor Roman rulers. He went straight to those unpopular or feared or avoided, like tax collectors, robbers, criminals, the outcasts, the camel riders, the donkey riders, the prostitutes and multi-married ones, and felt right at home with them, and gave them the opportunity to have a friendship, a faith, a respect in Him and to turn their lives around so there would be a new kind of faith and happiness in their lives. How many leaders do that? How many politicians do that with sincere heart - not just for the photo-op? Jesus actually chose the lower classes, if one could categorize them as such, the simple people, the workers, the fishermen, the unpopular ones who needed to believe they were just as valuable if not more than worthy as the royalty and rulers who claim power over everything and everyone.
Jesus did’t sugar coat what the cost of following Him might be. It would cost them their families, friends, labors, and any comfort that might be in their lives. It would cost everything to be his disciple. In store could be hostility, imprisonment, betrayal by those close to them, hated because they knew Jesus, and even death, Yet, it would be worth it - and such persecution would give them a chance to show the strength of their faith and that nothing could separate them from the love of God through His Son Jesus. Jesus tells them “not a hair on their head would perish and fear not, by their endurance, they will gain their souls — in other words resurrection and eternal life. So there, to the evil, negative, jealous, and hard-headed ones who thought it all gobblygook and thought Jesus a false prophet too poor and too common for their hierarchy.
Jesus warns us - there will be cosmic disasters, chaos, destruction, persecution, but keep galloping on that horse because we will be cross that finish line with joy and love and glory. Victory is ours- and remember you are so much more than the worst you have done!! When we degrade ourselves for our errors, we forget God is holding our hand and walking with us through the worst embarrassment, the worst reaction, the worst choices.
And He shouts out - Brothers and sisters, don’t become weary with doing what is right. Keep working at it. All of creation is going to be transformed. No prayer is useless, or in vain for God answers before we get the prayer out of our mouths. Just let God be our strength and our might. And because he warns us of these things, with love and confidence, I say Thank you Jesus. Amen
~ Rev
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audrey@audreytaylorgonzalez.com
www.audreytaylorgonzalez.com
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