Gospel Readings:
Matthew 24:1-31
Matthew 24:32-44
Matthew 24:45-51
Devotion 1
Wait: Take time to sit in silence together, allowing space for God’s voice to be heard.
Read: Matthew 24:1-31
As we approach today’s reading, which follows Mark’s so called “little apocalypse” (Mk 13), we must keep in mind both the historical context of Matthew’s community and the lines of the argument which Matthew follows in his Gospel. Matthew is writing amongst a community who has been displaced by war and dispossession of land, with many fleeing the Judean war of 66-70 C.E. and ending up in urban centres like Antioch, struggling to survive by bonding together with others, mostly Jews, to form a marginal community. In his Gospel, Matthew has been critiquing the dominant notions of what is “good” and “just”, arguing that the injustice of the leaders has led to social breakdown and rebellion, which in turn has triggered the terrible destruction of the war (Mt 23:37-39).
Now, Jesus and his disciples are found coming out of the Jerusalem Temple. Matthew’s readers would instantly associate this with the most critical event of the war—the Temple’s destruction. The scene quickly changes, however, to the Mount of Olives—a location associated with messiah figures and revolution. There, they ask Jesus a question: “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
In interpreting Jesus’ response contained in the next two chapters, interpreters have commonly assumed that Matthew’s Jesus has in view the “end of the world” or “the end of all things”. It may be, however, that the disciples’ question about the “end of the age” is better understood as the fall of one world power and the rise of another—think of Gothmog, the orc lieutenant in Lord of the Rings haughtily proclaiming, “The age of Men is over. The time of the Orc has come!” In view in this chapter, then, is primarily the Jewish war, thirty years in the future for Jesus and his disciples, but in the more recent past for Matthew’s community.
With this in mind, Jesus paints a grim picture for his disciples; war, betrayal, torture, lawlessness, famine—all of these were part of the terrible events of 66-70 A.D. Amidst such suffering, Jesus doesn’t counsel his followers to take up arms alongside freedom-fighters in their revolutionary quest against the Roman powers. His advice is much more pragmatic—especially for a powerless people on the underside in a desperate situation: Flee! Don’t look for messiahs who will promise false dawns.
Amidst such darkness, however, there will also be vindication. Those who endure such suffering faithfully “will be saved”, their lives enfleshing the good news of God’s reign for all peoples to see. And eventually, Jesus proclaims, “the end of the age” of imperial domination will come. Verses 29-30 use the language of Isaiah 13:10 and 34:4 and Daniel 7 to depict the fall of worldly powers, their authority stripped away and given into the hands of God’s people to exercise rule in collaborative, “human” ways rather than tyrannical “beastly” ones. No doubt, this picture of “regime change” would have been a hopeful one for Matthew’s community. And, no doubt, for those whom the present power arrangements bring oppression rather than freedom, it is a hopeful picture still today.
Reflect
- What strikes you as you read through today’s reading?
- In what ways do you think it might have been an encouragement or challenge to Matthew’s community?
- In what ways are you challenged or encouraged by today’s reading?
Pray
Share Communion
Close with the Lord’s Prayer
Devotion 2
Wait: Take time to sit in silence together, aware of God’s presence in a broken world.
Read: Matthew 24:32-44
Matthew’s Jesus has painted a grim picture of war and decimation, but there is hope. There must be hope. On the horizon is the vindication of God’s suffering people and the end of the current, beastly, power arrangements and the beginning of a new, “human” way of sharing power. It will come about through not through the exercise of violence, but by the willingness to live faithfully to God’s way of radical love—a way lived out fully by Jesus, the “Human One”. 1
Today’s reading begins by taking Matthew’s Community back to the time before the war, only some fifteen or twenty years before. Many in Matthew’s community would no doubt have seen the signs of imminent war on the way—the agitation of rebel groups, the suppression of the population by the ruling powers, the rise of violent rhetoric on both sides. Now it has come to pass, and Matthew’s community can recognise that they were part of “this generation”. But did they recognise the signs beforehand? Did they understand where the rising tide of hatred and violence was leading their people? With hindsight, they can recognise the signs. And with hindsight they can remember the day, even the hour of destruction. But what are God’s people to do?
Jesus’ answer comes in two parts. First of all, they must be ready. They must recognise the signs. For Matthew’s community, reading this with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps the lesson is to learn from history. To remember the social, political, and economic climate which gave rise to war. To remember the ways in which different groups spoke of one another. To remember the distrust of others, even family members, and the way in which people were turned against one another by the rhetoric of fear, hatred and violence. For if they remember, then they might recognise the foreboding destination if they are tempted to turn down the same path again. If they remember, they might see the urgency of imagining another way—a way which humanises the other and refuses violence—even in confronting terrible injustices. For Matthew’s community, remembering the signs would help them find another way. And perhaps it will help us to as well.
Reflect
- Think about the climate of the world in which you live. Are there “warning signs” which you recognise?
- In what ways do you think today’s reading might speak to today’s world?
- In what ways are you challenged or encouraged by todays reading?
Pray for one another.
Share Communion
Close with the Lord’s Prayer
1 I generally use the term “Human One”, following scholars such as Ched Myers, to render the term “Huiou tou anthrōpou”, rather than the common rendering of “Son of Man”
Devotion 3
Wait: Take time to sit in the silence of repentance together, aware of our inadequacy and God’s grace.
Read: Matthew 24:45-51
The parable of the faithful and unfaithful slaves contains the second part of Jesus’ answer to the question of what are God’s people to do in the face of the coming (but for Matthew’s community, past) crisis. They are to be like the slave whose tsk is to look after the needs of his fellow, subordinate slaves. If he does well, he will be “blessed”—a blessing which seemingly consists of being put in charge of all his master’s possessions.
There is nothing in the parable which necessitates the Master being equated with God. Rather, he represents the hierarchical domination system of empire, organising and punishing his slaves thus. We might imagine him as an elite figure, perhaps a landowner who has acquired a considerable property at others’ expense. Jesus elsewhere challenges such figures and the power arrangements which serve their interests. This parable, however, does perpetuate such power arrangements in the promotion and increasing power of the slave.
Yet the point of the parable is to be “faithful and wise”—the promotion is a (perhaps ironic) by-product. Those in subordinate positions (probably most in Matthew’s community) do well to have prudence in the way they resist power. It would do no good to the nonviolent resistance of the kingdom to express resistance by abusing other subordinates under one’s care.
In the face of the coming crisis, Jesus exhorts his followers to live faithfully and wisely. They are to care for one another and not to unnecessarily provoke power.
Reflect
- What do you think Matthew’s community would have felt hearing todays’ reading?
- What do you think it means to be “faithful and wise” in your life?
- In what ways are you challenged or encouraged by today’s reading?
Pray
Share Communion
Close with the Lord’s Prayer
Devotion 4
Wait: Take time to sit in the silence of gratitude together, giving thanks for the ways you’ve experienced God’s loving kindness.
This week’s Common Value: Inclusion
Read: Luke 14:15-24
Reflect
- How might we practice this kind of radical inclusion this week?
Pray
Share Communion
Close with the Lord’s Prayer