“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” – Matthew 24:36

According to some, December 21, 2012 will mark the end of the world as we know it. Some predict mass, global, possibly even universal destruction; others are simply anticipating the ushering in of a new age.

Are any of the predictions correct? Only time will tell, I suppose.

While it might be easy to poke fun at those who time and again warn the world that the end is near, their cries do offer a space for reflection. For, indeed, if you knew without a doubt that December 21, 2012 (or December 12, 2012, depending on who you ask) would for sure be the last day of the earth’s and all of her inhabitants’ existence, well, how would that change how you would live the upcoming year?

Would you try to spend more time with friends and family? Would you travel as much as possible in an effort to see the parts of the world you’ve always wanted to see? Would you carry on much like usual?

One wonders if, as a society, we would pull together to make our final collective days as beautiful as possible, or if everything would completely fall into anarchy and chaos, as everyone tried to grab as much as possible before the time for grabbing came to an end.

Perhaps this is why God in God’s wisdom has decided that we WON’T be privy to the knowledge of just exactly when the Last Day will come. Human nature being what it is, it is very possible such knowledge would drive us to despair, to lose hope, to forget the holy callings God has placed in each of our hands.

Rather, God holds on to that information for us, and instead encourages us to live ready, alert lives. We are given, through Christ, the prophets, the apostles and the witness of God’s people the Church, all we need to know to live holy and fulfilled lives. Through all of these, God encourages us to live with the hope that the future, whether the future lasts 1000 years or 10 minutes, is held securely in God’s gracious hands.

So rather than preparing a bunker, that honestly if the world is going to disintegrate really wouldn’t be of much use anyway, we can use our time to rejoice in the gifts and responsibilities God has given us. We can use our time to worship, to share the good news, to help others, to work for justice, to seek peaceful solutions to difficult situations, to bring bits and pieces of hope to those who feel as though their world has already ended and they’ve been left behind.

No one knows the day or the hour, not even Jesus, but only the Father. Sisters and brothers in Christ, in this new year, let us live each and every moment filled with the hope and belief that our future, however long or short it may be, is held firmly in God’s hands.

Peace and Blessed New Year to all,

Pastor Jen