December 10, 2017
Here we are, the second week of Advent already. And as I discover every year, the Advent readings can be a little dark and scary and don't really give the Christmas peace and joy feelings I'd anticipate. Last Sunday, we had the Christmas program so didn't spend time in the Gospel reading for that day. Listen again to a bit of Mark to see what I mean, “Jesus said, “In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.” The end of time, judgment day; Jesus doesn't come back next time as a baby in the manger. Today's epistle gives us more of the same, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire... the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire.”