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Then if anyone says to you, “Look! Here is the Messiah!” or “There he is!” -do not believe it. For false messiahs and fake prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand, So. If they say to you, “Look, He is in the wilderness, do not go out. If they say, “Look! He is in the inner rooms, do not believe it. For as the lightening comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

“Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the heavens, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the signs of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another.

“From the fig tree leaves learn its lesson as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is next. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

In this reading we are advised to know the true Christ when He returns. We will see dramatic signs such as lightening, we will have suffered greatly, the sun and moon darkened and a trumpet sounding before Christ returns. It will be an unmistakable event.

 

The false prophets of yesteryear and now remind me of the old medicine man show that traveled around the country in the 1800-1900’s. Some of these profiteers are around today. The Wizard of Oz who was a fake imitation of a healer who in the end admitted his mistakes and turned into a good guy. We may be tempted to listen to the sleek delivery of a message by impostors who say they have the true message of our Lord but are really just out for a quick buck then on their way. Maybe they will also turn their hearts in the right direction.

 

This reading is appearing during the first week of Advent. How easily we can be caught up in the fake message of preparing in a secular way for Christmas rather taking the time for preparation of the heart with Advent. During Advent we are to remember the events before the birth of Christ and prepare for his second coming. We typically prepare with lighting an Advent wreath and doing special Bible verses around topics of hope, peace, joy and love. We can ease our busyness with one deep breath. Sometimes that is literally all the time we have with many obligations of family, school, job, and a myriad of responsibilities. One breath and we can feel God’s holy presence is with us.

 

Let us pray-Dear Lord be with us as we struggle with false signs and prophets so that we can know the true message of your love for the world. Amen

 

Cindy Dougherty

 

Alternative verses-Isaiah 54:1-5, Psalm 124

Prayer concern-Ask God for peace in yourself and spread this peace to others.