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November 9, 2025 "And Yet, We Endure"
Yeah, this one's a tough one. Jesus gets all apocalyptic up in this place. In this passage, the disciples and Jesus have just come from Samaria. In Samaria, they would have been surrounded by people who were different from them in every way imaginable. So when they finally get to Jerusalem, they're feeling good. They're now on home turf. They see the temple and they're awestruck.
A bit about the temple. It was architecturally awesome, with large, impressive stones and the gilded walls.
But Jesus, yeah, he's not impressed. He's like, "Pretty soon this whole thing is going to be crumbled to the ground." They're looking at the same thing - but they don't see the same thing. The disciples see a picture - a symbol that God is with them on their side. They see a picture of spiritual and religious certainty and permanence. And Jesus says, "Yeah, that isn't quite true. You can't keep God domesticated. You can't keep God within anything you create." He brings disillusionment into their lives.
Disillusionment is necessary for the life of faith. That will lead us to some questions: What lies or illusions do we sometimes mistake for the truth? Who says, "I am he! I will save you!" - and why do we sometimes listen? Why do we cling to certainty and permanence when Jesus calls us to learn and grow and change and evolve? We need disillusionment - we need death, before the promise of resurrection, new hope and new life.
So how do we live when it seems like the world is falling apart? Jesus says, "Do not be frightened. Do not worry beforehand." Yeah, easier said than done. Well, we endure anyway - even when it seems like the world is falling apart. But HOW do we endure? We'll move to the table which might be the only symbol that will save us. Self-sacrificing, self-giving love. The table, where all are welcome - where we're all on the same level - where there are no hierarchies and everyone belongs. The table - where we all recognize that all of us are on the same team - made of the same stuff - in need of the same nourishment. So we receive from God that nourishment - and we participate in making sure that everyone gets that nourishment - gets what they need to live full healthy lives in the here and now. Even while we struggle.
Speaker: Aaron Vis
Scripture: Luke 21:5-19
http://bible.com/events/49519653
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Yeah, this one's a tough one. Jesus gets all apocalyptic up in this place. In this passage, the disciples and Jesus have just come from Samaria. In Samaria, they would have been surrounded by people who were different from them in every way imaginable. So when they finally get to Jerusalem, they're feeling good. They're now on home turf. They see the temple and they're awestruck.
A bit about the temple. It was architecturally awesome, with large, impressive stones and the gilded walls.
But Jesus, yeah, he's not impressed. He's like, "Pretty soon this whole thing is going to be crumbled to the ground." They're looking at the same thing - but they don't see the same thing. The disciples see a picture - a symbol that God is with them on their side. They see a picture of spiritual and religious certainty and permanence. And Jesus says, "Yeah, that isn't quite true. You can't keep God domesticated. You can't keep God within anything you create." He brings disillusionment into their lives.
Disillusionment is necessary for the life of faith. That will lead us to some questions: What lies or illusions do we sometimes mistake for the truth? Who says, "I am he! I will save you!" - and why do we sometimes listen? Why do we cling to certainty and permanence when Jesus calls us to learn and grow and change and evolve? We need disillusionment - we need death, before the promise of resurrection, new hope and new life.
So how do we live when it seems like the world is falling apart? Jesus says, "Do not be frightened. Do not worry beforehand." Yeah, easier said than done. Well, we endure anyway - even when it seems like the world is falling apart. But HOW do we endure? We'll move to the table which might be the only symbol that will save us. Self-sacrificing, self-giving love. The table, where all are welcome - where we're all on the same level - where there are no hierarchies and everyone belongs. The table - where we all recognize that all of us are on the same team - made of the same stuff - in need of the same nourishment. So we receive from God that nourishment - and we participate in making sure that everyone gets that nourishment - gets what they need to live full healthy lives in the here and now. Even while we struggle.
Speaker: Aaron Vis
Scripture: Luke 21:5-19
http://bible.com/events/49519653