I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid it seemed like it would take FOREVER to turn 18 and get to move out on my own. I was so looking forward to going away to college. Not so much because I hated my parents, but because I wanted to see what I could do on my own. When I was accepted into Southern Illinois University I was ecstatic. My Mom entered a state of depression that lasted until Christmas of my first year. But when I was really young, the thought of turning 18 seemed impossible. Like it would never come. But, of course, it did and here I am almost 50 years later and can definitely attest to the fact that my teenage years certainly did not last forever.
On a less personal level, what about the careers of athletes and show business personalities? When they are in the middle of their runs of “greatness” it seemed as if it would go on indefinitely. George Blanda was the oldest player to have played in the National Football League. He was 48 years old when he retired after playing 26 years for several teams. He passed away in 2010 and I am betting that not many of you remember who he was. How about Mickey Rooney? Rooney was in show business for an astounding 89 years. I am guessing that only the oldest of ACM readers know who he was…and, FYI, I do remember him. What does that say about the number of years I have been strolling around the third rock from the sun?
And what about nations? How long did some of history’s longest running empires last? Well we know of the Roman Empire lasting around 500 years with the Holy Roman Empire, a collaboration of Rome with the Papacy, hanging on for about 850 years. More “recently”, the Ottoman or Turkish Empire existed from 1299 to 1922. 600 years. Generations existed within the walls of these dynasties and I am sure each generation believed it would never pass from the earth…but they ALL did. Just as did every actor, athlete, country and kingdom did. They all disappeared from the earth. Just like my teenage years.
In today’s reading from Daniel we hear about Daniel’s dream of 4 great beasts that devour the earth and their enemies in succession. The beasts represented the Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman Empires. All gain rule by conquering the one before it. And I am sure the inhabitants all believed that their great social construction would never end. But as I mentioned above, they all were wiped from the face of the earth and, in many cases, wiped from memory. In the last century we had the British Empire rule the waves until they began to lose their colonies. Including the American Colonies that now are these United States. 250 years since its inception in 1776. BTW. I would highly recommend the Ken Burns documentary on the American Revolution. Just finished watching the last episode.
So what is the point of all this? Well, we know that in Daniel’s dream, the fourth beast is not the end. An even greater power will overthrow this head of the beast which some would call the Anti-Christ. What is this greater power?
“But when the court is convened, and his power is taken away
by final and absolute destruction, Then the kingship and dominion and majesty
of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High,
Whose Kingdom shall be everlasting: all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
And that kingdom is the same one that is spoken in Luke’s Gospel portion today. Jesus is telling His disciples to not get caught unaware because that kingdom will come at anytime. Will they, and we, be ready? He says to them:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.“
Now I like to keep up on the news just like everyone else. And I have political views which I will not share in this space. At times I get caught up in the workings of the political situations to a fault. I let it get in the way of daily activities. Sometimes getting in the way of my daily prayers, readings and reflections. As much as we think that the times will be with us for years and years, the truth is that these things are but a blink of an eye. The 60s were a time of violent upheaval. The Vietnam War, Civil Rights violence, Assassinations, and Political Corruption. But these things also passed. Each generation believes it has the market cornered on unique events that the world had never experienced before. But we know that, in the end, it all is just recycled from bygone eras. Christ tells His apostles and us to focus on what truly matters:
“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.“
In the end…and I mean in THE END…none of the athletes, actors, political parties or Kingdoms will matter. Only the relationship each of us has with God and with our communities. Have we withstood the trials the world has thrown at us and remained focused on the final kingdom in Daniel’s dream.
