Proper 28 Year B

If somebody says to you, ‘It’s not the end of the world,’ It’s probably not the end of the world.

Mark 13:1-8

Jesus speaks of stones tumbling down one upon another.  He speaks of wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and famines.

We who stand in pulpits this week could preach with a sensationalism that might be able to compete with the best disaster movie ever made.

This preacher, however, is reminded of the words of the great American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, who said:

It is unwise for Christians to claim any knowledge of either the furniture of heaven or the temperature of hell; or to be too certain about any details of the Kingdom of God in which history is consummated.

I am also reminded of the words of Jesus who said, You know not the time or the place.

Our passage from St. Mark’s Gospel this week is not an internet link to the end of time, but neither is it irrelevant to OUR time. I believe this Gospel is germane to our spiritual lives right as we live them in the present. 

Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt when they heard from Jesus that the great Temple was going to fall? Jesus had shaken every one of their foundations up to this point, and they were actually being fairly good sports about it too. But this time he was speaking about the one place they could count on being able to hang their trust and their faith: The Great Temple in Jerusalem.

Notice here that Jesus moves from the disciples’ anxiety about where to put their trust into a discourse on false messiahs.  This may, at first, seem disconnected, but I don’t think it is. 

People like Jim Jones, David Koresh and Marshall Applewhite aren’t the only false messiahs we need to be worried about.  In fact, in the scheme of things they have very little appeal and even less influence. I think it’s possible that in this Gospel Jesus might have been alluding to the messiah complex that lurks in each of us.

There was a sign spotted very appropriately in the window of a small-town bank; it asked the question:  

Jesus saves, why can’t you?

Have you ever had those times when you felt that ONLY you could save a particular organization or project?  Have you ever thought to yourself: Nobody has quite the perspective on this that I have, so I’ll just jump in and save the day? Have you ever taken yourself so seriously that you’ve lost sleep over it? Haven’t most of us suffered at one time or another from that pesky Messiah Complex?

And Jesus says, Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’

The messiah complex has been responsible for more heartache and heartbreak, more workaholics and worryaholics than we might at first imagine. It is prevalent and pervasive in Christ’s Church.

Now, you need to trust me on this one.  I know this firsthand because, if you give me the permission, I will gladly become the control freak that I most fear.  Over the years because of my vast experience known to most as advancing age, I have learned to let go of some things. This did not come easy for me because as soon as the bishop lifted his holy hands from my head, back in 1985, I was going to save the entire world.

These are the kinds of stones that I think we stack one on top of another for ourselves. However, I think Jesus is asking us here to think about this: when those stones come tumbling down – one upon another – where, then will we place our trust? When we need a Savior, where then will we find one?

The good news is that there is a cure for this Complex.  It takes place when those so afflicted can simply acknowledge their need for God. It sounds easy, doesn’t it?  It’s easily said, but it is another thing completely to get it from the head to the heart.

One way to help with that is to think of a time when you’ve really needed someone, and they were there for you. Maybe it was a time when you were in trouble, or hurting, or both, and this person stayed with you not because they needed you, but only because they loved you. I’m willing to guess that most everyone can think of such a person in their lives.  I am quite certain that I can. If you think just a little bit beyond this, you might just realize that this is the greatest gift anyone can give you.

Well, there is only one reason God stays with you; that reason is LOVE.

When we sit down to begin our morning prayers, we are quick to pray for world peace, and for the sick and suffering, and for those loved ones who have gone to the greater life ahead of us, but how often do we pray, I need you God . . . I need you to direct my life!

I think only when we can pray that prayer, in all sincerity, can we then begin to understand our Savior, Jesus Christ, who said, Come unto me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

It seems there are two choices:  We can let go and let God, or we can hang on and let go of God. As one who has done the latter more than I care to admit, I can tell you it is a burden no one should try to shoulder. I’ll close with this story that a missionary to the Philippines tells:

The driver of a cargo wagon was on his way to market, when he overtook an old man carrying a very heavy load on his shoulders.  

Taking compassion on the old man, the driver invited him to ride in the wagon. Gratefully the old man accepted. 

The wagon traversed the steep grades and windy roads for hours, and when they arrived, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. 

To his surprise he found him still straining under the heavy weight, for though he had come aboard the truck, he had not taken the burden off of his shoulders.

We are but a short time from closing another church year, and believe it or not, we will soon be making our preparations for the birth of our Savior into our hearts. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready, not just to climb aboard the wagon, but to let go of the burden on my shoulders as well. I’m ready to say those healing words:  

I need you God . . . I need you to direct my life!