Malachi 4: 1-2 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition)

Luke 21: 5-19 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition)

The gospel of Luke highlights the idea that lays on the heart of Jesus’ mission. It is a radical concept of hope, not the kind of hope that is visible. It is the opposite, one you don’t see. Instead it’s the kind of hope that requires trust and commitment to make it a reality to eventually succeed.

Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem and his disciples were fascinated by the Temple there, with lovely stones which were part of the Temple. But Jesus told them, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another, all will be thrown down”

Then the disciples asked Jesus, “Teacher when will these things happen?” Jesus replied, “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must happen first. But the end will not follow immediately.”

Violence and earthquakes were part of the Day of the Lord. The Jewish people said the present age was bad and evil. Later the second age was to be the “golden age” of God” and Jewish supremacy will rule the entire world. But between the two ages it will be a terrible time of cosmic upheavals and destruction, the birth-pains of a New Age.

But the main question from the disciples was, when will the Temple in Jerusalem be destroyed? Jesus doesn’t answer their question, but warns the disciples to leave Jerusalem before it’s too,

And it was horrible. Jerusalem fell to the Roman armies in 70 AD after a violent siege to make the Jews surrender. The Jews starved to death within the Temple and some turned to cannibalism to survive. The Jewish historian Josephus was a witness to all that violence. It was counted more than one million Jews were killed and 97,000 were carried away into captivity.

Is it just wishing to be free of all pain and suffering? Good people should never worry about pain, but it does happen to all people. Nations continue to pick fights that have no good reason, except for political leaders to boost their ego.. Right now the current Administration in our nation seems hell-bent to invade Venezuela for no good reason, except to steal their oil.

We watch from a great distance the evil in this world. The Palestinian people are facing genocide in Gaza and with our goverment’s hand in that, thinking Israel can do no wrong. Jesus said “before the New World becomes a realty, the forces of evil will arrest you and persecute you. Jesus says, “Look inside of you with God already there by your side. I will show you what to do. And many will come in my name. Do not be deceived by these dangerous and foolish men.” 

Luke’s Jesus is not on the broad predictive vocation. He is trying to lead people away from liars and frauds. Jesus wants to make people seek the truth away from empty words of little value, to the saving words of Christ who has come to make us all one in the search for justice and shalom.

Malachi was an Old Testament prophet and the last of the writing prophets. He wrote the book of Malachi probably between 440 and 400 BC. Very little is known about Malachi, except what one can read from his book. 

The new creation envisioned by Malachi condemns those “who oppress the hired workers in their low paying wages.” This is the rise of the gig economy with its dependence on short-term labor contracts and workers’ rights. AMEN.