The Peace We Long For: Advent in Disorienting Times | Day 3

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Matthew 24:1-22

Oof, our passage from Matthew isn’t giving “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” or any of the other nice language of the holiday season. Rather, it gives us a violent tale. It describes the end times. Many of us, though, may be familiar with this language and the ways it has been used. Maybe to scare? Maybe you have counted the “rumors of war,” or kept track of natural disasters, or even resisted the urge to hate? 

This passage is a disorienting one. The jarring language, violent imagery. I feel my anxiety rising, too, but could it apply to our current time? Like the passage, 2025 has felt disorienting when looking at our political landscape, our environment, the fast-paced development of technology, and the effects of the COVID pandemic. It’s a lot to wrap our heads around, but maybe it's a reminder to focus on what matters. 

Things don’t end for a reason; they can bring about a new beginning. Typically, end-times talk is tied to the second coming of Christ. With Advent, every year, we get to look towards the OG coming of Christ. Every year, we can examine the disorientations in our lives, laying those fears and concerns before God, knowing that Christ will come, always. 

We also must acknowledge that some of the things mentioned in Matthew are everyday life for people in our communities and across the world.

For some, Advent is a reminder that goodness is coming even though it may be hard to see in the present reality. 

While this passage may bring up many feelings for a lot of people, let's see it in a different light.

May we also see the future, and that in the end Christ is coming and will make all things new. Disorienting times pass. May cling to God in the midst. 

Prayer: Lord, amidst our disorienting times, help us to keep our eyes on you. Our help.