This year, as we approach Advent, I am deeply inspired by these reflections from The Reverend Doctor Willie James Jennings, a professor of theology at Yale Divinity School, who offers a sweeping sense of what the season can mean, if we allow ourselves to enter in: "The prophets always stood in a particular moment and invited the people of God to step into the depths of their faith by entering a future with God. They were asked to believe in a future that they could not see, because faith is never only for today. It is also always bright hope for tomorrow."

Professor Jennings makes clear that what he calls "a future with God" is anything but passive or predictable, but involves companionship and collaboration between us and God: “Unlike a grand puppet master manipulating world events or even the events of our lives, God enters the everyday struggles of creatures and, from within the everyday, draws us toward our destiny in God. Jesus shows us the God of time moving in our time, walking with us in it, and working with us through it."

Dr.Jennings declares that "Jesus is God’s holy gift, a gift we need especially in times of uncertainty, especially when the world is shaking."

He continues: "Jesus invites us to bring our lives into the divine life by following God’s time. We must enter into God’s time so that we are not overwhelmed by our times. The actions Jesus wants from his disciples in uncertain and unstable times are precisely the opposite of what one would expect. Disciples stand up and raise their heads (Luke 21:28).”

In this way, he suggests, we can learn to “see what is happening and continue to do the work,” not by ourselves, but with God, who is present within our everyday struggles, and who does not look on from afar, but is with us right here, as near as our breathing, working with us, strengthening us, and loving us in all circumstances.

Further, Professor Jennings urges us not to let the seriousness of this passage “dull (our) senses to the beauty of God’s creation or the joy of being alive even in difficult times.”

He acknowledges that “Certainly we can see in some events the operations of evil and human sin, which must never be taken lightly.” Yet, Dr. Jennings still encourages us to “frame this world within God’s love and embrace.”

Amen, Reverend Doctor Jennings. Amen and Thank You.

Dr. Jennings' full reflections on Luke 21:25-36 can be found in Connections: A Lectionary Commentary, Year C, Volume 1, 2018, pages 14-16.