Do Not Be Alarmed

As we come close to the end of the liturgical year, it is no surprise the lectionary has led us to something of an apocalyptic text. I used to read the word “apocalyptic” and immediately think, “scary” (as in, the latest end-of-the-world disaster movie come to life scary). Certainly, on the surface of it, today’s passage fits with the scary vibe, especially since the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE occurred just after or concurrent with the writing of Mark’s Gospel. Mark’s original readers had plenty of reasons to be alarmed by wars and rumors of wars. They—and we—know what that means.

So, how do we plan life-giving, hope-bringing worship around an apocalyptic text? I think we begin by recognizing that Jesus isn’t telling us what will happen to scare us but to assure us that God is still with us. Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines—these are all going to happen, and still, God is with us. We are not alone. When we are tempted to believe that God has abandoned us, when we want to question what kind of God would allow such evil to happen, Jesus refocuses our attention—this is not the end. This is the hope that grounds our worship today—all that is wrong in our world is not the end of the story.

One way we claim that hope is by confessing our faith together. If you already include a Statement of Faith in your weekly service, encourage your congregants to recite the words in a spirit of hope and trust in the God who never leaves us. Whether you recite a creed every week or not, consider using the “Statement of Faith from the United Church of Canada” (United Methodist Hymnal 883) this week, as it offers an especially eloquent and profound statement of our belief in God who is with us in all things.

Also, consider how the prayers of the people might offer an opportunity to name the truth of the suffering in our world and the truth that God is still God and is still working to bring abundant life to all creation. Remember, Jesus didn’t attempt to make the evil of the world and the goodness of God make sense. Instead, Jesus proclaimed the goodness and love of God in the face of the terrible things we humans do to one another and creation. May our worship—our prayers, our creeds, our proclamation, and our blessings—do the same.