Today's readings and homily focused on the idea that apocalyptic passages in the Bible are meant to get us to focus on our everyday lives rather than to have us try and predict the future. As our pastor noted, we've recently lived through a number of apocalyptic predictions (Y2K, 2012, etc.) and the world has continued on. Rather than worry about a possible future, we should work to make a present experience better for ourselves and others.
Unfortunately, we are obsessed about knowing the future. I regularly check the weather to see when the next snow is predicted to come. Many people look to economic reports as a way to predict the outcomes of their investments. We read polls to try and determine the outcomes of future political races. Yet only God knows the true outcome. Placing our faith in these prognostications can sometimes lead to utter dismay, especially if we make poor choices based on what had been predicted to happen.
This does not mean that we should not try to prepare for the future. However, as Paul admonished the Thessalonians, we need to do so by taking action and working in the present rather than standing idly and complaining. There are plenty of people worrying about the future (to varying degrees of validity), but we need more working to build a better today.
Unfortunately, we are obsessed about knowing the future. I regularly check the weather to see when the next snow is predicted to come. Many people look to economic reports as a way to predict the outcomes of their investments. We read polls to try and determine the outcomes of future political races. Yet only God knows the true outcome. Placing our faith in these prognostications can sometimes lead to utter dismay, especially if we make poor choices based on what had been predicted to happen.
This does not mean that we should not try to prepare for the future. However, as Paul admonished the Thessalonians, we need to do so by taking action and working in the present rather than standing idly and complaining. There are plenty of people worrying about the future (to varying degrees of validity), but we need more working to build a better today.
RSS Feed
