The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, November 15th: Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-18; Mark 13:24-32)

NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR

I bet you  didn’t know that I periodically have conversations with God while driving to work in the morning. No, not through prayer. A lot of people do that. I mean, I talk directly to God through my car’s satellite radio. It’s one of those obscure stations way past Howard Stern and Mad Dog Russo.

So the other day I was stuck in traffic on I-84, and I didn’t feel like listening to the traffic reporter on the AM station tell me that I might run into some slowdowns—since my car was already at a complete standstill—so I switched to the satellite radio and tuned into the God channel. “Hey God,” I said out loud. “Are you there?”

“Of course I am, Bill,” came a booming reply. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well, I’ve noticed lately there are a lot of people predicting the end of the world.”

“What people?”

“You know, TV and radio preachers, books, magazines, movies, even some of the cable news pundits. They’re saying events in the Middle East are a sure sign the end is near, which means you’ll be coming back any day now in a blaze of glory for the final judgment. They’re even quoting the Bible to back up their arguments.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed that predicting my Second Coming has become a growth industry in the religious world,” the Lord said. “And yes, there are a lot of verses in Scripture, especially the book of Revelation and some of the apocalyptic prophets, which address the end times. But there are other verses in the Bible these folks are forgetting.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “Which verses?”

“For example, in Mark’s gospel, I taught my disciples about the end of the world. I explained that when it happens, it indeed will be cataclysmic, with startling signs in the heavens. I will return with power and glory, and my angels will be sent out to gather my people from all over the world.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s exactly what those preachers are saying.”

“But they ignore the final verses of that episode. I clearly explained to my disciples that ‘no one knows about that day or hour, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“What part of ‘no one knows’ don’t you understand, Bill?” the Lord answered.

“No, I think I understand that. But I’m confused by what you said about the Son not knowing while the Father does know.”

“During the Incarnation, when I took on human flesh, I willingly submitted to being ignorant about certain things. The exact date of the end of the world was one of those things. Now that the Incarnation is over, I am once again all-knowing. This is because I and the Father and the Holy Spirit are one. Just as I and the Son and the Holy Spirit are one. Just as I and the Father and the Son are one.”

“Oh boy, now I’m really confused.”

“Don’t worry, Bill. No one on your side of eternity can truly grasp the concept of the Trinity. Trust me, it will make perfect sense when you are here. Just have faith for now that it’s true.”

“Umm…OK.”

“I only mentioned it to my disciples to make the point that if I, their master, didn’t know, then no one really knows, and people should stop wasting their time making predictions. I don’t think I could have been any clearer about that, and I’m amazed that today’s crop of so-called Bible scholars ignore it when declaring the exact date the world will end.”

“Well, Lord, what is the main message you’re trying to tell us from what you said to the disciples?”

“It’s a simple message, one the Boy Scouts borrowed from me: be prepared! Because you do not know the exact day or hour, you must be prepared at all times.”

“You mean stocking up on canned food and bottled water, like people did in 1999 when they thought the world would end on January 1st, 2000?”

“No, Bill. A basement filled with Spam and bottles of Poland Springs will be of no help to anyone at my Second Coming and the end of the world. By the way, did you finish off that Spam yet?”

“Ha ha. Very funny. It was Dinty Moore. And the answer is…almost.”

“Stockpiling food for ‘the end of the world’ will not help a person at the end of his world.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I mean death, Bill. I mean passing from your side of eternity to this side. What I mean is, don’t focus on the end of THE world. Focus on the end of YOUR world. It happens millions of times each day. As the letter to the Hebrews explains, ‘Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.’ You’d be surprised how many people stand before me the moment after their death completely unprepared. They act as if they had no idea they’d ever die.”

“Well, sometimes death happens suddenly. Those people never get a chance to be prepared.”

“No, Bill, that’s a weak excuse. I clearly taught that everyone must be prepared at all times so they will not be taken by surprise.”

“What do people have to do to be prepared?”

“It’s simple. Repentance. Trust. Faith. If people acknowledge their sins, ask for forgiveness, and put their faith in me, then try their best to live out that faith each day, they won’t be unprepared when the time comes to stand in judgment before me.”

“That seems fair enough, Lord. I’ll try to make sure I’m prepared.”

“Good. Now one last thing, Bill. I’m glad you’re going to try to be prepared when your day comes. But now that traffic is moving again, keep an eye on the road, please. Your day is NOT suppose to be today.”

©2009