Time after Pentecost, Lectionary 33
Malachi 4:1-2a
Psalm 98
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Luke 21:5-19
And not a hair of your head shall perish. In your patience ye shall win your souls.
I can only imagine what the Temple during Jesus’ day must have looked like to the people living in Jerusalem and to all the pilgrims who went there to worship. I have never visited the site, but I have heard that they have a scaled model of the Temple to visit while you are in Jerusalem. There are also virtual tours available on the Internet. Though these recreations give us an idea of its beauty and size, they can’t even come close to the reality of what it would have been like in that day. It is like the giant redwood trees in the Northwest. You can see a million pictures of them, but you can’t really understand how big and beautiful they are unless you stand at the foot of one.
People were more than willing to put their money into the building and decoration of the Temple. It was a massive structure, built with the best stone and other materials. It was not meant to be a fortress, but it was probably very secure. The Temple was a sanctuary from the fears and dangers of the world. Visitors and residents must have felt very safe within its walls. So, Jesus’ words to the disciples in this week’s Gospel lesson must have been shocking and unfathomable. How could that great place be destroyed?
For many of the people living in Jesus’ day, the Temple was the destination of their greatest quest. The Jews took pilgrimages to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices and to worship their God. In the courts of the Temple they were as close to God as they could get. It was a magnificent place, getting more beautiful with every new building project. It was dedicated to God and it honored Him well. When Jesus prophesied the destruction of the Temple, He was not just threatening a pretty building, but He was threatening the very foundation of their faith. It was a terrifying possibility. What would they do? Where would they go? How would they do sacrifice to God?
They asked the question we all ask, “When?” We are not waiting for the destruction of the Temple, but we are waiting for the return of Christ. We have been waiting for the return of Christ for two thousand years. When? Jesus gives us the signs, but these are signs that have been visible for every generation. Perhaps we are the generation to see the return of Christ, but we must beware that we do not make it the quest for our lives. Jesus also promises that not a hair on our head will be harmed. Yet, many people have not only died since Jesus left, many have been hurt because of their faith. There have been too many martyrs over the millennia.
The Gospel lesson ends with Jesus telling the disciples that not a hair on their heads will be destroyed. Of the twelve, only one died of old age. The others were persecuted, beaten and killed. Even John was imprisoned. To suggest that no hair on their heads will be destroyed is a ridiculous statement. If only it would be true! I rip a dozen or more strands out of my head every time I brush my hair. I can’t tell you how often we have had to clean the drain because hair has created a blockage. And ask the bald guy down the street what happened to his hair. Will he think it is a sign of God’s wrath that his hair is gone? What about the cancer patient who is wearing a scarf to cover her loss of hair from chemotherapy?
Hair certainly has a purpose on our bodies, but it is not something that needs to be protected. The heart is vital to our existence. So are the lungs and the brain. Hair can be cut, colored, woven, braided, pulled, knotted and made to stand on end without harming the person. It is the crown of a woman’s beauty and can make a man look very distinguished, but it does not define their character. Oh, a blonde may be blonde, but I know plenty of redheads and brunettes who are a little blonde themselves.
So, why would Jesus begin the lesson with a warning about the destruction of the Temple and end it with a promise that the hair on their heads would be unscathed? The Temple was ‘God’s home on earth.’ It was the place where He dwelt among men. It was so beautiful, covered in decorations paid by the offerings of the many believers who had passed through its gates. In the story just before this message, Jesus points out to the disciples a widow who gave a measly mite to the Temple offerings. His point was that she gave more than the others who had put so much more in the plate because she gave everything. She gave her only coin, her well-being, her future to God. The others were giving just a portion, and even if that portion was a large percentage, they still kept something for themselves. Her offering may not have been enough to purchase gold leaf for the décor, but Jesus recognized the sacrifice and her willing heart and she will always be remembered for it.
The Gospel lesson is about the end of the age, and we might focus on that aspect particularly since we are living in a time when there are plenty of wars and rumors of wars. There are plenty of false prophets touting their goods in the public squares these days. There are plenty of reasons to be afraid. Perhaps we can even read this warning as one for our own time and place. Will our walls come tumbling down? But there is grace in this message and hope. Jesus reminds us that we have a purpose in this life, and worrying about the end times will not make anything happen and it will not make anything better. Our purpose is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to be His witnesses in this world.
Though Jesus says that not a hair on our head will be harmed, we must not read this as a promise for earthly protection. Saints throughout the ages discovered what it meant to be a witness for Christ in the world. Many of them died the martyr’s death. Martyr means witness. They were beheaded, impaled, hanged and slaughtered for their faith. In this passage Jesus tells us what we will face – “But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name's sake.” Persecution will lead to the opportunity to be witnesses. The earthly promise of faith is persecution and death.
Now, we are more willing to accept the notion of God’s wrath when the person being destroyed is an enemy, but deep down in our hearts we know that we are no better than they. We know that we are proud and that we are wicked. We know that there are aspects of our lives that would best be destroyed. Our sin, our doubt, our hatred – we all suffer from these things in one way or another. We deserve to enter into the furnace. But that’s where God differs from the human analogies we use to describe Him. He is like a mother bird as He covers us with His wings but He is also like the fire. He burns away the pride and wickedness in our lives, leaving behind a cleaner, purer person. He brings healing and righteousness.
There are times when it feels like we are burning, but God is working good things in our lives, bringing us to the place that He intends us to be. The perfection for which we strive will never fully be realized in our flesh because we continue to be sinners even while we are saints. We continue to go through the fire of cleansing that burns away the stubble of our lives. Our hair might be destroyed, but with God’s grace we’ll come out of our difficulties stronger and better.
Human analogies are rarely able to describe God fully. As we read the scriptures there are images of God that really touch our hearts and there are some that are unreasonable. We prefer the loving, caring God and would rather ignore the God who would all the fire to burn anyone until they no longer exist. We prefer the ‘prosperity gospel’ that is touted in some churches. We would rather believe that God will not allow a hair on our head to be destroyed. It is better to know that God is in control and that He is powerful enough to save us from anything. However, Jesus never promised us the hope of immortal life. He promised us the hope of eternal life. He also promised that we’ll face difficulties and hard times because of our faith.
We are reminded that through it all, God is concerned about even the most insignificant parts of our flesh. He has counted to the number of strands of hair on our heads; He knows our every thought, prayer, concern and doubt. He also knows that every bit of His creation is perishable. All that we have built up over our lifetime will pass away. But that doesn’t matter, because if we stand firm in God’s promises, we will gain life.
Paul writes to the Thessalonians that each member of the community should do their part. The fellowship of believers is like a family, brothers and sisters in Christ. When everyone does their part, everything works well. Paul’s instruction goes beyond the work of the church. He encourages all Christians to be active participants in the world around them, working to provide for their own needs and for the needs of the community. He does not say that we should ignore or reject those who do not work. He encourages the able bodied to do their share so that the resources can be available for those who are truly in need.
The church to which Paul was writing was living in a time of uncertainty. They knew that Christ would return and that time was short. However, they could not define the time. Many assumed that the end would come during their life time. The Gnostic point of view was that the flesh no longer mattered. They did not need to work, to use their hands, to care for the needs of their flesh because soon they would have no flesh for which to labor. They did, however, ensure their bellies were full, eating the food shared by the other members of the Christian community. They did nothing to provide, but took advantage of the grace of others, leaving few resources for the people who were really in need.
So, we feed and clothe those who are in need, but that does not give them leave to be idle. They too have a role to play in the community. Many of the widows were unable to provide support, having no financial means. However, they could help to teach and guide the young women of the community, offering their time, their wisdom and their experience to help with the growth of the people and the community. Sadly, some of the widows spent much of their time being busybodies and gossiping rather than helping. As they say, “Idle hands are the devils playground.” The women who had no real purpose in the community spent their time doing things that would never benefit the believers.
As part of the community of believers, we are all called to be faithful witnesses of the Gospel in words and deeds. Our work will never gain us salvation, but as Christians it is up to us to live as God has gifted us to live. As part of the family of Christ, we are meant to do our part for the smooth and successful operation of the Church, God’s kingdom visible on earth.
Music is not something that I can claim as a gift. As a matter of fact, I’m rather famous for not being a good singer. When I sing, it is truly a ‘joyful noise.’ I haven’t let that stop me. I still like the sing the hymns and songs at church, though I tend to do it quietly. I rest in the knowledge that God does not mind my singing. Even though my tongue grates on the ears of men, the song of joy in my heart is like sweet incense to God. We’ve all been given a song in our heart and we should not be afraid to sing out to Him in thanksgiving and praise. He has done, is doing and will continue to do great things for His creation. I can imagine the psalmist did not concern himself or herself over pitch and tone when he or she was singing this hymn of praise. When we sing the psalms we join in the hymns of the angels and the saints as they worship God. When words fail us, when we have no idea what to say to the Lord God Almighty, a song of praise is enough. You need not even know all the words! God has placed a song on your heart, one that will glorify Him. Even when we do not feel like singing or our circumstances make songs of joy seem inappropriate, it is always right to sing praise to God.
We put our hope in so many things. We put our hope in our jobs, in our politicians, in our religious leaders. We put our hope in our children, that they will achieve more success than we. We put our trust and our hope in our bank accounts and in our insurance policies. We put our hope in our flesh. Jesus tells us that the Temple will be destroyed. Malachi tells us that the destruction will be so great that there will be left no root or branch. Everything is perishable. That is why we can only put our hope in one thing – God. Faith in jobs, money, children and self will only leave us with disappointment. Only God is faithful.
But that does not mean that we should reject the things of this world. God has given us life to live and His Word to share. The hair on our head may not last, but it doesn’t matter. The temples we build might fall down, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that God is with us through it all and He has promised us something greater. Those who persevere resting on the promise of Jesus Christ will gain life.
A WORD FOR TODAY
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