The Gospel for December 7, 2004 (Ambrose of Milan)
Luke 21:29-38
And he told them a parable, ‘Look at the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you can see for yourselves that summer is now near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. In truth I tell you, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.’ All day long he would be in the Temple teaching, but would spend the night in the open on the hill called the Mount of Olives. And from early morning the people thronged to him in the Temple to listen to him. -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
We are again in the stew over post-prophesy authorship, and it is impossible to discern whether these are words transcribed from Jesus' lips to our ears, or the writers' biases reflected in words given to Jesus.
We have reliable and repeated sources for Jesus' injunction to us always to be ready for when the thief will come and steal our lives away.
A Reflection
I wonder about the changes in our nation's character and awareness of the "cares of life" -- that Jesus lumps in with debauchery -- instead of "holding [our] ground before the son of Man." >
Franlin D. Roosevelt's words echo because of what day it is, a "day that will live in infamy." We are a nation ourselves who have now taken the unprecedented (for us) step of a preemptive attack on another sovereign country, an action FDR roundly condemned. We certainly made lots of noise and clatter before we loosed the dogs of war in Iraq. But nobody can say it wasn't preemptive, and few can say with a straight face that it was justified. Yes, Sadam is a bad man. Yes, Iraq may one day be better off, at least those who survive our imposition of "peace" on them. And, yes, the president's margin of victory was slim, (but he won) and yes, the press are all over him as they should be, in our democracy.
But the fact is that we, the United States, all of us, are corporately responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of innocents who aren't even counted anymore, and no one in our Government seems to worry about it. Billions spent to destroy Iraq, which most people couldn't find on a map within two minutes, but slim pickings if you're sick and uninsured, or unemployed and cold or hungry, or if your Social Security check can pay for medicine OR food.
When that day comes, unexpectedly, like a trap -- then, what will we say?
The Collect
O God, who gave your servant Ambrose grace eloquently to proclaim your righteousness in the great congregation, and fearlessly to bear reproach for the honor of your Name: Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching and faithfulness in ministering your Word, that your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
8:43:38 PM 
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