Day 1
Sunday, November 27
Andrew Ziegler
Today’s gospel reading isn’t standard “Christmas” fare. There’s no “joy to the world” here. Jesus warns his disciples of coming tribulation, the sun going dark, stars falling from the sky, the Lord coming like a thief in the night. What might this mean for us?
Interpreters differ on the meaning of the first part of Mt. 24 (e.g., is this about the end of the world, or just the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.?), but regardless of that, what is clear is that Jesus is calling his disciples to be faithful until the end, no matter how bad things get. Moreover, there’s a sharper focus here.
In light of the coming judgment, Jesus calls his disciples to be “faithful and wise servant(s)” who have been “set over his household” to give the household “their food at the proper time” (Mt. 24:45). There’s the same focus when Jesus restores Peter at the end of the Gospel of John. Jesus commands Peter to “feed my sheep,” and again, “feed my lambs” ( John 21:15-17). The faithful disciple will feed the household of God. What must they feed them? God’s people are fed by God’s word and the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ (cf. Mt. 4:4, John 6:52-58).
Today also, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the sea, our church leaders are called to feed the flock by teaching the word of God and pointing us to Christ. In turn, we, the household of God, are called to draw near together to be fed by hearing God’s word preached and to feed on Christ in faith as we come to his table. “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!’” (Ps. 122:1).
Andrew lives in Southborough and enjoys woodworking and cooking for company—though not at the same time.