Choosing What Matters

“As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’” From Mark 13:1-8

What confidence the beauty of the Temple must have given to the disciples as they walked off the Temple Mount. To exclaim at its majesty and seeming solidity must have been comforting amidst the hard conversations Jesus was having with his followers. He challenged the status quo right and left, telling them about the many changes coming and that God’s kingdom will bring all sorts of shifts in what they thought they could count on. I suspect the disciple who had exclaimed about the majesty of the Temple was not expecting the response Jesus offered. Maybe they didn’t expect a response at all, but, being told that even the solidity of those structures was not final could not have been what was hoped for as comfort. The disciples from the inner circle were not completely comfortable with that answer, since they immediately followed up asking for signs to know when and where these events will happen. When things are shifting under our feet, we often grasp at control as an attempt in finding a bit of steadiness.

So, what’s going on? How does that help us in times of transition or growing awareness of division in our world? What does that say to people who are feeling afraid about what might be coming next for themselves or for those they care about? Where is a word of hope for those on the margins? Where is the word of challenge for those in power? And how do we position ourselves along that spectrum? I think there are several insights we can take away from these last days of Jesus’ ministry as he’s preparing to draw closer to the cross.

The first is that we can privilege relationship. External structures, no matter how beautiful or powerful, do not replace the strength we need from the relationships we are called to nurture. Those relationships are not just meant to provide comfort, but also a challenge shared in love. Jesus doesn’t ask us to step away from the conversation and his challenge to us is to not shy away from a hard truth. I find the people I love and trust are the ones who can call me to a better version of myself. That only happens if the relationship has been tended and feels trustworthy. It is an invitation to trust the hard process of revelation. We cannot begin the work toward reconciliation and new life without looking with clear eyes on what is real. That may require space for grief, sadness, silence, and a naming of the complexity we are grappling to understand. We are gifted with the knowledge that these spaces are already inhabited by the love of our God who became human.

So, seek that which allows you continuous growth in the trust of that love which endures all things.

Peace, Beth +