5th Sunday of Lent (April 6). DO NOT GO!

​Prepare to Listen.  The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.   (Ps 126:3)
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 17:20-37
20Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!”  For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.’  22Then he said to the disciples, ‘The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  23They will say to you, “Look there!” or “Look here!”  Do not go, do not set off in pursuit.  24For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.  25But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.  26Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man.  27They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them.  28Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30—it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.  31On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back.  32Remember Lot’s wife.  33Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.  34I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.  35There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.’  37Then they asked him, ‘Where, Lord?’  He said to them, ‘Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.’
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
The story begins with the Pharisees asking when the kingdom was coming.  It ends with the disciples asking where?  What’s your question about the kingdom and Christ’s coming?
 
Every age has had preachers who claim to know when and where Jesus will come.  They say, “Look there!” or “Look here!”  And many follow them not heeding Jesus’ warning, “Do not go, do not set off in pursuit.”  Jesus’ teaching is puzzling, but two things are clear.
 
First, Jesus says do not go, that is, don’t be fooled by populist preachers who claim to know.  We don’t need them.  The days of the Son of Man will be as obvious as “the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other,” and just as unexpected.  Jesus’ death was unexpected yet inevitable.  Scripture teaches that the son of man will be vindicated by God after suffering.[1]  Jesus suffered and his vindication is victory over all who oppose God and God’s ways.  We live in hope of this final victory and mustn’t be fooled by false pundits who think they know when and where.  Do not go after them, says Jesus.  Don’t believe or listen to them.
 
Second, trust Jesus’ victory.  “Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.”  Even though Jesus won the victory, suffering and hardship continues and we’re tempted to protect ourselves and our loved ones with means within our grasp.  We live in a tension between the already (victory won) and the not yet (we wait to experience it).  We will know suffering and death, but Jesus promises, we’re safe if we trust him.
 
How do these challenging words of Jesus comfort or disturb you?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Jesus, help me trust you despite not knowing when and where you will come.  Keep me alert to see the obvious when you do come.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Do not go until Jesus comes.
[1] Daniel 7, for instance.