Pentecost 23C
November 16, 2025
2 Thessalonians 3; Luke 21:5-19
INTRODUCTION
Always on this last Sunday before Christ the King Sunday, we hear texts about the end of the world. The idea here is that this week we hear about how the end is coming, then next week we hear about Christ’s second coming, when the King will come and reign over all, and then the next week we begin Advent, when we turn our hearts toward remembering Christ’s first coming, even as we still wait in hopeful expectation for that day when the Prince of Peace will come again. Cool, right? Lectionary for the win.
Our first reading today comes from Malachi, the very last book of the Old Testament. After Malachi’s prophecy, there is a 400-year gap before Jesus (aka the Sun of Righteousness) comes to save us from our sins. Our reading from Thessalonians takes us to just after the resurrection, when believers were expecting Jesus to return at any moment. As a result, they had ceased to work or do anything, thinking, what was the point anyway, if Jesus was coming back soon? Paul tells them this is the wrong attitude; instead, they should always strive to do the right thing, whether Jesus comes in 5 minutes, or 5000 years.
In our Gospel lesson, Jesus warns the disciples about the end of the world, and the signs that will make clear this is about to happen. Some of the signs sound uncomfortably like what we can see looking around the world today. But, Jesus assures them, even in this, God has a purpose, so trust in that.
It’s not a particularly warm-fuzzy message, from any of these texts, but then again, neither is life always full of warm fuzzies. As you listen, remember a time in your life (or it may be right now!), where it felt like life as you knew it was crumbling around you, and consider: where did God show up, or where did God’s purpose become clear in that? Let’s listen.
[READ]
Grace to you and peace from the one who is and who was and who is to come. Amen.
I was so moved last week by many people’s willingness to tell their stories from our day of service. I didn’t really know what to expect, because Lutherans are generally allergic to the idea of “testimony.” But friends, you delivered! You testified to the ways God was present in and among us as we served our community. And I thank you for your witness!
Maybe this is why the line that jumped off the page for me in our Gospel reading today was, “This will give you an opportunity to testify.” That line always takes me by surprise. I’ve gotten so caught up by that point in the despair of all this end-of-the-world fear and destruction – famines, earthquakes, nations rising against nations, all that. I’ve gone down the same road every generation before us has, wondering, “Boy, this sounds a lot like the world today – is this the end times?” As my brow furrows more and more, suddenly we read this line: “This will give you an opportunity to testify.” Huh! A classic reframing! I can practically hear the voice of the therapist, saying, “Every obstacle is an opportunity!” In this text, the “opportunity” Jesus is speaking of is getting arrested, and being brought before high-ranking officials. Once you have an audience with the people in power, he says, use it to testify!
But it got me thinking: in today’s world, intentionally getting yourself arrested can be a form of protest, but also, we don’t need to be arrested to have a platform. In a democratic republic, the idea is that we all have a voice. With media, both traditional and digital, we can easily communicate our testimony to hundreds if not thousands of people any time we want.
So the real question is not, how do I get myself a platform to offer my testimony, but rather, what is it that I need to testify in this time and place in which we currently find ourselves? What word of hope is needed? And second, how will I offer it?
Of course, the answer to the first question, what shall we testify, depends partly on the audience, and the particular struggles they are enduring. Some things we share – we all suffer from the human condition, and there are some environmental or societal things we are mutually experiencing. Some things are unique – maybe this week you lost your job, or your loved one is dying, or someone important to you just dropped on you a difficult truth and now you are left to deal with the rubble left behind.
But no matter what mutual or unique challenges we are facing, there is a message in this passage that speaks to us all. It is a message worth testifying any day of the week, into any challenge, big or small. It is the message on which our entire faith is based, and here is what it is: that God wins every time. That resurrection is real, but that before resurrection can occur, something must die. That temples will be destroyed, walls will come tumbling down, relationships will be tried, governments will falter and fall – and this is devastating and terrifying, but it is not the end of God’s story. Because the end of God’s story is always, always new life. And new life cannot come about unless something first dies. Jesus does not mince words about how difficult this will be. But he also assures us, “Not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.” In other words, have faith. God has got this, and God has got you. Trust in God.
It is a powerful testimony, both to hear and to give. But the next question is, how do we give it? Well, the first answer to that seems obvious: you give it by giving it! Don’t be like the Christians in Thessalonica who say, “Oh Jesus is returning soon? Cool, that means I don’t have to do anything.” No, it doesn’t matter if Jesus is coming tomorrow or in 1000 years – we continue to live and speak and act like Christ’s followers, because that is what we are.
Second, a testimony can be given in any number of ways. I have a card in my office that my parents gave me for my ordination. It is a quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi that says, “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” So sometimes we testify to our belief that God always wins, that new life always follows death, with our words, like I’m doing now.
But sometimes we testify by gathering food from our neighbors to feed the hungry, or writing cards to people who are lonely. Sometimes we testify by singing God’s praise from the choir loft, inspiring devotion in the hearts of listeners. Sometimes we testify by going into the streets with a sign or making a phone call urging lawmakers to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, and care for the sick, as Jesus taught. Sometimes we testify by giving generously – by looking at the ministry of St. Paul’s, seeing how that ministry is transforming lives, and saying, “I want to be a part of that. I will testify, make a statement of my faith, with my wallet.”
You see, every way that we live has the potential to be a testimony to the life and hope that we believe comes from Jesus Christ. How easy it can sometimes be to slip into despair, grieving like those who have no hope. To get caught up in the doom and gloom. I know, friends, I have been there, too! But every act of joy that works against the fear is a testimony. Every kind act or word is a light scattering the darkness. Every dollar given toward bringing someone life testifies to the God who is the resurrection and the life. When we live our lives like a testimony to God’s goodness, we may not stop fearful occurrences from happening, but we will remember and proclaim who gets the final word, and that with Christ, that final word is always resurrection. So let us take our opportunities to testify, however they may come, and never grow weary in doing what is right.
Let us pray… God of life, the world can be a fearful and discouraging place. Let us not slip into despair. Instead, give us the courage to testify, in word and deed, to your goodness, your light, and the promise of new life. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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