Daily Devotional • August 23
A Reading from Mark 13:1-13
1 As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2 Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
9 “As for yourselves, beware, for they will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. 10 And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit.12 Sibling will betray sibling to death and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 13 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Meditation
Today’s readings do not give me warm, fuzzy, happy thoughts. The thought of wars, earthquakes, famines, the end coming, and persecution are not fun. We are being told not to be led astray, and this is just the beginning of birth pangs. We are told not to worry about what to say when we are handed over. Note that Christ says when we are handed over, not if you are handed over. We are reassured that the Holy Spirit will tell us what to say.
Bad things happened, and bad things will continue to happen. Christ also says, “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). The box marked on the “To Do” list for trouble can be checked off. But Christ has already overcome this world. We know what happens at the end. God wins—The victory is Christ’s!
Sam Wells writes in God’s Companions: Reimagining Christian Life that God has already written the first and third acts. We are improvising the second act right now. We are trying to figure out how to live in the second act without any script. We need to keep our eyes on Christ and remember how the story ends. It will end at the throne room with Christ as the Lamb! Read the last chapter in the Bible to know how it all ends. It is not a secret mystery.
The Rev. Sara Oxley is the rector of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland, Florida.
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Daily Devotional Cycle of Prayer
Today we pray for:
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
The Diocese of Ogbia – The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
