Mk 13:24-32 Learn This Lesson

Mk 13:24-32  Learn This Lesson

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Jesus said to his disciples:  “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.  …Learn this lesson from the fig tree.  When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.  In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates.  Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Be vigilant.  The Universe is one amazing and complicated “thing” or reality.  It took billions and billions of years for it to come “together”.  It will take billions and billions of years for it to all fall apart.  So much is out there, and for what?  Why? 

It took billions of years for life to appear on earth.  Life, as we know it, struggled to exist and even more so to survive, and for what?  Why?  Was it created for the sole purpose to fall apart? 

All things pass away.  You and I will pass away.  Be vigilant!  Be attentive to what is important; to what never passes away.  Did you kill yourself for more money; for more recognition; for more of just about everything, only to see it all disappear before your very own dying eyes?  I hope not.

Did you smile before you lost your teeth?  Did you listen before you lost your hearing?  Will you spend time with your family before you lose sight of your family?     

All things pass away.  You and I will pass away.  Even the Universe will pass away.  The stars from the sky will collapse.  The Sun will explode.  But those who lived in the Son of Man will remain in Him just as He remains in the Father, the author of life, the Creator of the Universe.

My word and your words in God’s world will disappear.  But His Word in His world will always remain.   

People will come and go, but those who lived by His Word and followed His path and lived His life will never pass away.

Why do all things pass away?  Maybe it's so that we never take for granted anyone or anything.  And just as we should never take for granted that which is fleeting, we must be careful never to take for granted He who never departs!  Yes, we tend to take for granted not only people who are always around but those who fail to respond. 

Yes, we have a tendency to do both just as much as we have a tendency to sin in action as well as in omission.  We spend way too much time and effort on all that is wasteful and sinful and not enough time on all that is holy and everlasting. 

So many people come and go in our lives.  Only Christ remains.  Difficult times come and go.  Only by God’s grace do we endure. 

Today, I baptized five children into the faith.  They received a white garment, symbol of their newfound purity and Christian dignity.  I reminded their parents and Godparents of the nameless and passing individuals who will one day attempt to throw mud on their child’s dignity and purity.  They must be vigilant at all times.  I then handed to them a lite candle, symbol of Christ’s presence in the world.  I reminded the parents and Godparents that there are many people in the world that would love to blow out Christ’s light in their child’s life.  They must be vigilant at all times.

Be vigilant at all times!  Pray at all times!  The world will collapse and fall into disgrace, just like the Son of God fell from “grace” and into the hands of his enemies.  But the old shall be replaced by the new, just like the Old Law was replaced by the Law of Love.  The stars will fall and the sun will collapse, but the Son of God will take its place and the “wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever” (Dan 12:3).

Learn this lesson.