GroshLink

in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among the nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then we will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory... (Luke 21:25-36).

"There is a part of me that wants to avoid the uncomfortable realities represented here -- especially during this blessed season that falls between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But the truth is, the scenario described in Luke 21 is much closer to real life than the dreamy images of beautiful angels, lowing cattle and a gentle mother nursing the Christ-child that we often associate with the Christmas season. At the global level, our days and nights are filled with images of the very dynamics described here: the unresolved tensions of clashing nations, violent interpersonal conflict, the roaring of sea and tsunami waves and hurricane flooding. At a more personal level, we are plagued by our own confusion and distress about conflicts we can't resolve, questions we can't answer, failures among ourselves and others that cause us to question the very Gospel message that we proclaim." -- excerpted from Ruth Hayley Barton's Light for our Darkness.