In today’s gospel reading from Mark 13: 1-8, Jesus’ disciples question him as to when he expects that the temple in Jerusalem will be torn down and when the end of the age will come. (A similar, but more lengthy version of this discourse between Jesus and his disciples on the Mount of Olives is recorded in Matthew 24) And what are these signs? - wars, false teachers, earthquakes, famine.   These are things we see around us even in our time.  We see the brokenness of human nature - deception, how we perpetrate evil and injustice against each other.  We see crime and violence taking root in our country.  We see the damage to infrastructure caused by hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.  There is famine in many parts of our world; people in Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Mali are today experiencing famine conditions.

However, as frightening as these signs may be, Jesus, in today’s gospel reading, appears equally concerned about offering to the disciples some sound and practical guidance as to how they should conduct themselves in the midst of all these signs - these signs of the broken-ness of our world and our humanity.  So, He says to them with compassion and reassurance, “beware that no one leads you astray”, “do not be alarmed”, “the end is still to come”, but this is only the “beginning of the birth pangs.”

Christ Jesus, I believe, is telling us today that there will be evil and injustice around us, frightening things may happen, natural disasters will occur; they won’t go away, but even in the midst of all of these things, “I will demonstrate my care and compassion for you until that time when I come.  All I am asking is that you be faithful to me, don’t be led stray, be watchful, exercise wisdom, and stay calm.”

One of the ways in which we commit ourselves to not being led astray is by sticking close to Christ Jesus.  And how do we stick close to Him? We stick close to Him by communicating with Him through prayer, by reading and meditating on the scriptures, by fashioning our lives in a way that we imitate Christ Jesus as best we can - by demonstrating His compassion and care, by being a light in the midst of darkness, by telling others about His sacrificial love for us and the hope we have in Him. 1 Peter 3: 15 encourages us in this way - “… in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect...” Amen.

Peter DePass