As we draw to the end of our liturgical year, we listen to readings that speak to us of the end times. Too often these scriptures are preached with fear and despair. I’d rather invite us to turn our thoughts and hearts to Hope, Joy and life. I believe that we are being drawn deeper into hope as we listen to the Scriptures. The psalmist writes
“Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.”
This must be our starting point as Christians. God has not left us to destruction but rather we are given confidence in the hope that comes from hearts filled with gladness and our souls rejoicing because we have not been abandoned. In this moment in time we need so much to be reminded of the great promise that is given to us for living, now and eternally through God’s power and grace.
The images of the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory should be cause for rejoicing. Jesus has already conquered, he already has fought the battle and we are being led to share in the life of God’s elect. Namely through Christ we have hope for tomorrow. seeing in the signs of the times and all around us there is hope. Just as in the branches of the fig tree there is life locked inside, that life is a possibility for us.
As we prepare to again welcome the Gospel of Luke we are again invited to find in life a new possibility and God’s ability to break through the challenges and circumstances of life to lead us into a new joy for living. We can not stand in fear before what lies ahead, but we must as a people of faith not only encounter for ourselves this great power that open to those with no hope, no joy an opportunity for the Son of Man to bring forth new life for each and everyone. Lets us be led by God’s power to have our hearts be glad and our souls rejoice for God has not abandoned us but rather leads us into a deeper life in Him.
God so desires to reveal himself more deeply but it requires that we we see beyond what we face to the possibility of something greater. The image of Michael the great prince is the guardian over God’s people. He too is a reminder of God’s great power and love over us that we again are not abandoned but protected, cared for and loved!