The Wise Shall Shine: 14 November, 2021

Mark 13:1-8

When Jesus’ friends marvel at the magnificence of the temple, he warns that the temple is transient and will be destroyed. As soon as they have withdrawn to the Mount of Olives, his friends begin to query him, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” What does the future hold? How will the end come?

Jesus only starts to answer their questions in the portion of Mark appointed for this week, so let’s focus on that. Wars and rumors of wars and natural disasters are only the beginning, Jesus says. He also warns against listening to those who come in his name, but who are not actually representing his life and teaching. These will successfully lead astray many of the faithful. Today, we live with wars, threats of wars, and natural disasters all the time, but what about these deceivers of whom Jesus speaks—those who will lead people astray? Are they here now? –– Jerry L. Harber

Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25

We are near the close of Ordinary Time, a time where we begin to get tired of the color green and long for purple (or blue) to come onto the scene. Theoretically, this “green” time is supposed to be a time of growth where we learn about what it means to live or grow into discipleship. The Hebrews reading for this Sunday is a wonderful reminder of just that. It is almost as if the writer of Hebrews is checking in with us, making sure that we have gotten something out this long season, making sure that we have grown.

In vss. 19–20, the writer says, “Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us. . .” we must enter “by the new and living way.” We do not worship a God that is dead, but a God who is living and calls us to live, too. How easy it is for us, as pastoral leaders and congregations, to forget that fact. Because if we worship and follow a living God, then we, too, are called to be living in the Spirit, sharing in the same inheritance as Jesus Christ himself. And yet, how many times have we heard, “That is how we have always done it?”

How many times have we found ourselves getting stuck in a rut, whether it be in our preaching or our pastoral care? We all like our routines and “the way it has always been done,” but if there is anything I have come to learn, it is that no matter how much I like routine, life is going to change. It is going to live, with me or without me. –– Kathryn Barba Pierce

Daniel 12:1-3

For this penultimate Sunday of the church year, we hear sobering descriptions of future events. We do not perhaps need more of that in our lives right now, but it is the case that God’s word turns us to honesty about the human condition. It is always tempting to land on the bad news (“if it bleeds, it leads” in the news business), but then we notice that God’s word in Daniel makes room for the “wise” and the “righteous.” All is not lost. Ever. For God has created a world in which God’s word urges us toward visions of evil overcome with good. –– Melinda Quivik

Michael Beck, an Anglican parish priest with a DMin in preaching (2004) from the Association of Chicago Theological Schools, serves as a tutor for preaching at the Lindisfarne College of Theology, Durham University, United Kingdom.

Judith E. Simonson is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Melinda Quivik, an ordained ELCA pastor (who served churches in Montana, Michigan, and Minnesota) and former professor of worship and preaching, is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Liturgy, a writer, and a preaching mentor with Backstory Preaching at backstory-preaching.mn.co.

Homily Service 42, no. 4 (2009): 124–134