Watch and Learn---Christ Says

TUE EP Reflection 121421 Watch and learn (PS 45; Zec. 2: 1-13; Matt 24: 32-44) The more I read these scriptures, the more an image was forming in my mind. It is an image of Christ the King, the first born of all creation. I felt encouraged to read with care and in meditation. I began with Psalm 45 which depicted a message from God to King Cyrus who was not an Israelite. God’s words to him were tender and full of love and mercy. This was definitely a picture of the character of our God who loves us despite ourselves and our failings. The bible tells us that Christ died for all: “He is himself the sacrifice for our sins— and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world.” What a blessed message to hear at the close of Advent, looking forward to the birth of our Savior. So, look not to your failures or your sins, the savior is at hand, begin to seek him with all your heart, mind and soul. Watch and learn. One of the greatest advantages of contemplation is that our seeking is amplified by the seeking of those who went before us. St John Chrysostom who lived in the 4th century educates us a great deal about reading and understanding Christ’s words. He wrote: “What does Jesus mean when he says this generation? He is not speaking of the living but rather, he is talking about the age of believers… The faithful will not be destroyed by any of the things cited… Over this generation---the faithful, that is---nothing shall prevail, not famine, nor pestilence, nor earthquake, nor wars, nor false Christs, nor false prophets, nor deceivers, nor traitors, nor those that bring temptation, nor false brethren, nor any other temptations.” Matthew tells us that Jesus was comparing the end of the world with that of the flood that destroyed the earth in Noah’s time. For believers, the coming of the Son of Man is good news, because Christ is the Son of God. Bishop Barron writes: “He comes into the world like a cleansing fire, a wild storm or a violent revolution.” In Noah’s day, people were urged to change their ways and renounce their sins and obey God’s ways. Not only did they refused to listen and to obey, but also, they ridiculed the message and the messenger. God was determined to save his own people even if some persevered in their tracks towards the wrong way. I can definitely see this picture of God facing his people and those who rejected him in Zechariah 2. The prophet was given a vision about a man with a measuring line in his hand to measure Jerusalem. God says [I will paraphrase]: “Your protection means nothing unless I am your protection! ---I will be a wall of fire around it {Jerusalem}; I will be the glory within it ---Truly, one who touches you, touches the apple of my eye.” How delightful it is to hear those words! We should meditate on these words and learn from the heart of God. The purpose of this measuring seems to me to encourage faithfulness. It also serves a purpose of warning to God’s people not to be complacent thinking that they are born into it or thinking they have made it. We are still to renounce our sins and fully appreciate God’s incomparable and immense love and mercy. This is why we are to watch and learn as Christ said looking at the fig tree. Its lessons are valuable to us: Like we watch and learn about seasons, watch and learn God’s hand in the world. What God says ultimately prevails, so trust in God’s word always. Look at the signs and understand what the coming of the Son of man means and be ready! He is the one telling us that true protection is in him and that we will be empowered to withstand all trials and temptation in Jesus’ name. The coming of the Son of Man is upon us to purify us and our spiritual journeys. If you have not yet experienced the love and mercy of the Lord, don’t worry… God has a soft spot for you just like he had with King Cyrus who didn’t know him.

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