The reading from Isaiah this week is set during the Babylonian exile. It is meant to provide comfort to the people after having lost their homes and their temple, God’s dwelling place in Jerusalem, a devastating loss. Twice in these verses, he instructs his audience to listen and pay attention. He obviously has an important message for them. First, he encourages the people to look back at their roots and origins, reminding them of the blessings given to Abraham and Sarah that resulted in the establishment of a great nation. In verse 6, he encourages them to look up to the heavens, down at the earth, and around at their oppressors and know that even if heaven and earth do not survive, divine salvation and righteousness will endure forever.

Psalm 93 is one of the shorter Psalms. It praises God for his kingly rule over creation and emphasizes His majesty, strength, and eternal being. Verses 3 and 4 remind us that God is mightier than the raging sea (a vivid emblem of uncontrollable chaos to the Israelites) and that his reign extends beyond human issues.

The book of Jude (written by Jesus’ brother) is the only book in the New Testament that confronts apostasy or the defection from the true Christian faith, a view that seemed to be prevalent during this time. It describes men at their worst and God at his best. We should begin our defense against apostasy by growing in our knowledge and application of scripture and submitting to God’s will. And we should build ourselves up in our faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying in the center of God’s love, and being ready for the mercy of Christ. The book closes with a familiar, beautiful doxology, ascribing all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority to God.

Our Gospel lesson this week comes from the book of Mark, chapter 13, verses 24 -37. The setting takes place during Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. It is referred to by some as the ‘Little Apocalypse’ in that it describes to his disciples the end of the present world, the establishment of the kingdom of God and the second coming of Christ. It emphasizes that although the exact timing is unknown, people should: live in preparation for the end by guarding against deceptive teaching; prepare to endure the challenges and persecutions that will come and proclaim the Gospel. We are commanded to ‘stay awake’ and be prepared for whenever the end may come.  GL