The Gospel of Mark 13:1-8
As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”
Let us Pray: Jesus, bring your peace into the chaos of our lives. When the world seems to be falling apart, remind me of your constant presence and the hope that we have in you. Let your peace guard my heart and mind. Amen
“Do not be alarmed” Easy words to say, but hard words to actually live. Remember Jesus has said many times do not be afraid. Words spoken to encourage His disciples and His many followers. Words we should also take to heart. Words are easily said but again hard to live. Today’s world can be and is a scary place, so again words hard to live by. The Bible does more than issue the command; it gives us good reasons why we do not need to be afraid. Trust in God. This has to be the starting point. Do we trust God or not? The psalmist models the proper choice: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). Faith can overcome fear, but we need to have a true faith. We remember that our Good Shepherd is with us, even “through the darkest valley”. We do not need to be afraid because He will never, ever forsake us. He is our salvation, our strength, our defense, and “he has become my salvation”. In trusting God, we pray to Him, we believe His Word, and we obey His commands. Scripture abounds with reasons we should not be afraid, based on our trust in the Lord As we read this Gospel we can see it was designed to give the disciples and us hope and encourage steadfastness in the faith in the face of challenges to come. This text doesn’t provide a detailed schedule of the events of the end-time, its purpose is to encourage persistence in the present. This passage is also a stark reminder of the fragileness of earthly structures and the tumultuous events that often precede significant change. It calls for vigilance and faith, emphasizing that such events are part of a larger divine plan, prompting us to think about where we place our trust and to remain steadfast in faith amidst uncertainty and turmoil. It also serves as a reminder of the transient nature of worldly achievements compared to the eternal nature of spiritual life.
Let us Pray: Lord, amidst the turmoil and uncertainty of this world, help us to place our trust in you. Strengthen our faith to remain steadfast and unshaken, knowing that you hold all things in your hands. Please grant us the wisdom to understand the signs of the times and the discernment to navigate through life’s challenges. Let us not be led astray by fear or false teachings but remain grounded in your truth. This we pray in your Name. Amen
Reflections by Bob 