September 9th, 2013 Commentary on Henri Nouwen's Daily Meditation

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Daily-Meditation--Living-in-the-End-Time.html?soid=1011221485028&aid=4OivgIx3Cu4

In case the above link to Henri Nouwen’s Meditation doesn’t work:

Monday September 9, 2013

Living in the End-Time

We are living in the end-time!  This does not mean that creation will soon come to its end, but it does mean that all the signs of the end of time that Jesus mentions are already with us:  wars and revolutions, conflicts between nations and between kingdoms, earthquakes, plagues, famines, and persecutions (see Luke 21:9-12).   Jesus describes the events of our world as announcements that this world is not our final dwelling place, but that the Son of Man will come to bring us our full freedom.   "When these things begin to take place," Jesus says, "stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand" (Luke 21:28).  The terrible events surrounding us must be lived as ways to make us ready for our final liberation.

My Commentary:

Today’s Nouwen is definitely beginning on a dark note… One of the things I have a problem with, to begin with, is how certain theologies deem these days as “tribulation.”  When you choose not to read the Bible through several appropriate lens, you have misunderstanding of context, society and really the truth behind many of the scriptures in the Bible.  The Book of Revelation is one of them that has notoriously been misunderstood and incorrectly or not thoroughly viewed.  We must remember that Jesus said: Matthew 24:34-37  “³⁴Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³⁵Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ³⁶“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.³⁷For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”  As far as what Nouwen says of liberation, how will our self-destruction through greed and indifference towards the earth and each other truly merit freedom?  The further entrenched in sin we become, the further our hearts harden and turn away from God.  We need to pull the reign in upon our temptation to sin and discipline our lives to fully experience the life of GRACE God has in store for us.

In reading today’s meditation, pray for the path the world seems to be turning towards these days.  Pray for compassion and fruitful, Godly discernment/ wisdom to come to our governments, and all peoples that we bear one another with Love and Grace.  May you find the courage and strength to live into the Light of God’s Grace in all you do and say as disciples.  May God Bless your journeys!

Blessings to your Mondays!

Nicole Collins