Some people really like end-of-the-world literature; even from early days of record-keeping

most cultures had catastrophe stories. In the ancient lands of Egypt and Palestine, it wasn’t the

destruction of the world which mostly showed up in the literature, but a person’s fate in an afterlife.

Later when we invented weapons of global destruction and during the 1940’s - 1960’s, fictional

narratives about doomsday became popular.

Think of books like “Fahrenheit 451” (Ray Bradbury), “On the Beach” (Neville Shute) or “Alas

Babylon” (Pat Frank). Maybe these kinds of writings gave caution about the world’s situation. Of course,

later improvements in movie technology went to wilder and far-reaching threats (think: Star Wars).

Hebrew scripture authors wrote about “Sheol”, a dark, silent place where people went at death,

with little idea of a later redemption or heavenly mansions. When Jesus came, he did talk about where

he came from and how, one day, he would return for his people and bring them to a better home. This

place would be filled with joy, happiness, no more mourning or bad things going on, a place of endless

peace and happy activities without fear.

To most of Jesus’ listeners, this sounded pretty good! They lived largely at the mercy of their

conquerors, with little to eat, no property rights, and in times of unavoidable disease, accident, and

despair. In other words, Doomsday every day.

While many of us are so very fortunate to live in better times/places, the hope that Jesus

provides still rings true. “I’m going to my father’s house to prepare a place for you” he said. “And if I go

to prepare a place for you, I shall come again to receive you unto myself, that where I am, you may be

also.” So when hope in our own efforts doesn’t work out, when trust in governments wane, when

disease strikes, when the money runs out, there is still hope in the words of Jesus.

Everyone is welcome at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: Sunday service at 10 a.m. and coffee hour

afterwards. Soup Lunch Thursdays at 11:00.