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Sermon by Fr Michael Moorhead
We begin today with an ending. Today is the beginning of the new church year and we begin it not only with an ending but with “The End.” These verses in chapter 13 of Mark’s gospel have been described as the “little apocalypse.” Apocalypse is a Greek word meaning “uncover”, and its dictionary definition is: describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world. There are writings we call apocalyptic in the book of Daniel and of course the terrifying last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. Apocalyptic writing is not without hope. Apocalypse is seen as a necessary ending for a new beginning – a new heaven and a new earth – the kingdom of heaven – the advent of our God.
Apocalyptic writing often emerges at times of great distress. In the gospel today as Jesus comes out of the Temple someone comments on how magnificent the Temple is. It is then that Jesus prophesies its complete and utter destruction and defilement. This prophecy was fulfilled in 70AD causing a huge crisis of faith for both Jew and Christian. Both faiths had been centred on the Temple and God’s promises in relation to it. This was partly the motivation for Mark to write his gospel– and that is the significance of our reading today.
Mark’s was the first gospel to be written and part of his aim was to reassure a church in time of crisis that God was still with them, even though everything around them was changing in frightening ways. He was also recording for posterity the ministry, the passion and death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The style of the gospel is breathless – much is said in as few words as possible. For instance, between the different scenes, usually sparsely described, there is often the linking word “immediately.” This gives the gospel a sense of haste and urgency and ultimately of choice. This is a crisis, Mark is saying. You need to decide – not next year, or next month, or tomorrow - but now. If we decide for God – horrors may still await us – pestilence, earthquake, war, persecutions, torture, and death – but after that there will be resurrection hope - a new heaven and a new earth.
The ending of Mark’s gospel is shrouded in mystery. What happened when the women turned up at the tomb that first Easter morning? What were they afraid of? We are told little and are left hanging in the air – left wondering. The beginning of Mark is much clearer. His gospel begins with the need to repent, and make a change of life.
We know that at a time of crisis – there will preachers and leaders who will emerge, who call us all to repent. Now is such a time. The global pestilence which engulfs us all has a cause. We are all part of the sinfulness that has caused an ecological crisis which threatens to destroy our planet. We are part of the sinfulness which exploits the forest, which thinks that we can eat, and over indulge in everything, careless of the impoverishment of many, of the exhaustion of the soil and the dangerous exploitation of animals for food and dubious medicines. We are selfish, indulgent and careless. We are all to blame.
How is the government able to increase by a vast amount the money we spend on weapons of mass destruction and at the same time reduce the amount spent on those most needy in the world? It is a reversal of what the bible describes; we turn ploughshares into swords.
Much has been said about the coronavirus crisis – endless words and more words. But seldom do we hear that word “repentance.” If we are to emerge from this crisis into a better world – we need to begin as Mark begins by preparing a way for the Lord; for the Advent of our God. We need to repent. Amen.
We begin today with an ending. Today is the beginning of the new church year and we begin it not only with an ending but with “The End.” These verses in chapter 13 of Mark’s gospel have been described as the “little apocalypse.” Apocalypse is a Greek word meaning “uncover”, and its dictionary definition is: describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world. There are writings we call apocalyptic in the book of Daniel and of course the terrifying last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. Apocalyptic writing is not without hope. Apocalypse is seen as a necessary ending for a new beginning – a new heaven and a new earth – the kingdom of heaven – the advent of our God.
Apocalyptic writing often emerges at times of great distress. In the gospel today as Jesus comes out of the Temple someone comments on how magnificent the Temple is. It is then that Jesus prophesies its complete and utter destruction and defilement. This prophecy was fulfilled in 70AD causing a huge crisis of faith for both Jew and Christian. Both faiths had been centred on the Temple and God’s promises in relation to it. This was partly the motivation for Mark to write his gospel– and that is the significance of our reading today.
Mark’s was the first gospel to be written and part of his aim was to reassure a church in time of crisis that God was still with them, even though everything around them was changing in frightening ways. He was also recording for posterity the ministry, the passion and death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The style of the gospel is breathless – much is said in as few words as possible. For instance, between the different scenes, usually sparsely described, there is often the linking word “immediately.” This gives the gospel a sense of haste and urgency and ultimately of choice. This is a crisis, Mark is saying. You need to decide – not next year, or next month, or tomorrow - but now. If we decide for God – horrors may still await us – pestilence, earthquake, war, persecutions, torture, and death – but after that there will be resurrection hope - a new heaven and a new earth.
The ending of Mark’s gospel is shrouded in mystery. What happened when the women turned up at the tomb that first Easter morning? What were they afraid of? We are told little and are left hanging in the air – left wondering. The beginning of Mark is much clearer. His gospel begins with the need to repent, and make a change of life.
We know that at a time of crisis – there will preachers and leaders who will emerge, who call us all to repent. Now is such a time. The global pestilence which engulfs us all has a cause. We are all part of the sinfulness that has caused an ecological crisis which threatens to destroy our planet. We are part of the sinfulness which exploits the forest, which thinks that we can eat, and over indulge in everything, careless of the impoverishment of many, of the exhaustion of the soil and the dangerous exploitation of animals for food and dubious medicines. We are selfish, indulgent and careless. We are all to blame.
How is the government able to increase by a vast amount the money we spend on weapons of mass destruction and at the same time reduce the amount spent on those most needy in the world? It is a reversal of what the bible describes; we turn ploughshares into swords.
Much has been said about the coronavirus crisis – endless words and more words. But seldom do we hear that word “repentance.” If we are to emerge from this crisis into a better world – we need to begin as Mark begins by preparing a way for the Lord; for the Advent of our God. We need to repent. Amen.
