St. Timothy's Anglican Church

Fr. Stan's Sunday Bulletin Message

Sunday, November 16, 2008 Dear People of God, "My friends, about times and dates, I do not need to tell you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Ah, we have peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, my friends, you are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light, children of the day. For we do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (I Thess. 5:1-3) These are, of course, the words of St. Paul. Powerful words, encouraging words, Words which cause us to be on the alert for the One who comes not to destroy, but to save. What I find interesting is that Jesus used practically the same imagery in Matthew 24. Remember, He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, and the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming? What will be the sign of the end of the age?" Jesus answered and said, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs." Do you see the Good News in these words? I know that we tend to concentrate on the wars and the earthquakes and the famines. But what Jesus seems to be telling us is that these things are merely the pains which will precede the good, much like a woman in childbirth. The pains are tremendous for the mother as the child prepares to enter the world, but the reward is magnificent. The reward for the mother, who experiences the pain, is the gift of new life. Yes, Jesus and Paul are both describing a world in turmoil, a world very much like our world today, and their world yesterday, and the world of our great grandchildren tomorrow. So what DOES the future hold in store for us? Triumph! Fr. Stan+
Message Archives

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Dear People of God,

"My friends, about times and dates, I do not need to tell you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Ah, we have peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, my friends, you are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light, children of the day. For we do not belong to the night or to the darkness." (I Thess. 5:1-3)

These are, of course, the words of St. Paul. Powerful words, encouraging words, Words which cause us to be on the alert for the One who comes not to destroy, but to save. What I find interesting is that Jesus used practically the same imagery in Matthew 24. Remember, He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, and the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming? What will be the sign of the end of the age?" Jesus answered and said, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs."

Do you see the Good News in these words? I know that we tend to concentrate on the wars and the earthquakes and the famines. But what Jesus seems to be telling us is that these things are merely the pains which will precede the good, much like a woman in childbirth. The pains are tremendous for the mother as the child prepares to enter the world, but the reward is magnificent. The reward for the mother, who experiences the pain, is the gift of new life. Yes, Jesus and Paul are both describing a world in turmoil, a world very much like our world today, and their world yesterday, and the world of our great grandchildren tomorrow.

So what DOES the future hold in store for us? Triumph!

Fr. Stan+

Message Archives