The End of the World (Amy Butler)

Luke 21:25-28 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” // These are apocalyptic texts, passages in scripture that speak to the end of the world as we know it. These texts were composed by people living in dire straits, circumstance in which the world around them seemed to be falling apart and there was nothing to do except think about what would happen when it was all over once and for all. I can look at the distress among nations and the roaring of the sea and the waves and summon the hope to do exactly what Jesus told us to do: “stand up raise your heads...because your redemption is drawing near.” A new world is being born and we can find hope in being the midwives to usher it in. All the pain, all the rending, all the work, never giving up on the coming of a new world - this is where we find the hope this first week of Advent. -Pastor Amy // What do you feel or notice when you read these apocalyptic words of Jesus from Luke 21? When you look at the world around you, where do you see redemption drawing near? // This episode was written and recorded by Amy Butler. Samples include It's the End of the World by R.E.M. Background tracks include Relinquish by Podington Bear, Mile Post 1 by Alex Fitch, and A Storm at Eilean Mor by Jon Luc Hefferman. Find out more at www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo.