"Our world is filled with fear, hate, lust, greed, war, and utter despair. Surely the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the only hope of replacing these depressing features with trust, love, universal peace, and prosperity."

“It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theater. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought it was a jest and applauded. He repeated his warning. They shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid the general applause from all the wits who believe that it is a joke.”― Søren Kierkegaard: (1813  -  1855:Danish philosopher, theologian, & poet)

Gospel Text: (LK 21:29-33)

Jesus told his disciples a parable.

“Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.

When their buds burst open,

you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;

in the same way, when you see these things happening,

know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away

until all these things have taken place.

Heaven and earth will pass away,

but my words will not pass away.”

We all have seen the comic strip depiction of the ascetic man dressed in flowing robes and holding a sign that says, “The End Is Near.” Recently I heard of another of these humorous frames that had the usual ascetic-looking fellow holding a sign that proclaimed: “The End is NOT near -- So Figure out how to live in an imperfect world!” There’s great wisdom in that because it encourages us to look outside of ourselves and our fears and limitations.

We KNOW how to live in an imperfect world.  God has already “uncovered” God’s self in the very person of Jesus, God’s son and our brother.  Jesus has shown throughout the course of his whole life and especially his last days of dying and rising from the dead.  He brings the Kingdom of God to our very imperfect world and invites us to join with him in living lives that help to illuminate the Kingdom in our troublesome days.