WHEN I was first ordained, I lived in a house in Leicestershire. One of the previous residents, an Italian lady, planted a fig tree against the rear wall of the garage, which faced due south. Provided that I could keep the wasps and birds at bay, it was possible in the summer to enjoy ripe figs plucked fresh from the tree. What feels like an exotic treat in this country is a common fruit around the Mediterranean. They are a good indicator of the approach of summer, when fig trees put out buds and leaves you know that winter is over and warmer weather is on its way. As Christians we need to be alert, and read the signs given to us.

In this morning’s Gospel, Jesus is in Jerusalem, explaining to His disciples what will happen before the Last Judgement. As we approach the beginning of a new liturgical year, we start to look towards Advent with its theme of Christ’s coming, both as a baby in Bethlehem, and as the Judge of all. The Jewish Scriptures, especially the prophetic writings, contain visions of the end times — of conflict followed by judgement, which will see all things set aright by God. 

‘Bydd llawer o’r rhai sy’n cysgu yn llwch y ddaear yn deffro, rhai i fywyd tragwyddol, a rhai i waradwydd a dirmyg tragwyddol.’

‘And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ (Dan 12:2)

Such a vision sounds stark, and even a little troubling, but when we remember that the God whom we worship is loving and merciful, then we do not need to be afraid. This passage speaks of the resurrection of the dead, so here for the first time the hope of eternal life is offered to God’s people: 

‘A’r pryd hwnnw gwelant Fab y Dyn yn dyfod yn y cymylau gyda nerth mawr a gogoniant. Ac yna’r anfona ei angylion a chynnull ei etholedigion o’r pedwar gwynt, o eithaf y ddaear hyd at eithaf y nef.’

‘And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.’ (Mk 13:26-27)

Christ’s vision of the end times is in complete agreement with Daniel’s — set out in today’s first reading. Jesus explains what will come to pass so that the disciples can understand who God is, and prepare for the Day of the Lord. This is the last fixed point in time. The previous one is Christ’s Death and Resurrection. 

Our Lord once again uses an illustration from the natural world. When the fig tree develops leaves you know that summer is close at hand. Similarly, before Jesus comes again, there will be clear signs. ‘But when will this be?’ you might ask. I cannot tell you. No-one knows, except God the Father. Given this fact, there is no point in worrying about which day it will be: today, tomorrow, or hundreds of years in the future. We will know when the day has arrived, even if we currently do not know how we will know this. Christ will come as our Saviour and our loving and merciful Judge. He died on the Cross and rose from the dead on Easter Day so that we can be sure of the forgiveness of our sins and our resurrection to eternal life in Him. 

None of us deserve a place in Heaven. However, God is gentle and generous, and forgives our sins when we make a mess of things. When we say ‘sorry’ He gives us another chance. We keep on making mistakes, and God keeps on forgiving us, giving us countless opportunities to do what God wants us to do. I find such generosity amazing. God’s love goes far beyond what we can understand or expect. We experience it day by day, week by week, in the Eucharist. Here Jesus gives us Himself, by His Body and Blood, to take away our sins, and to transform us into Him, preparing us for the joy of Heaven. The Eucharist offersus a foretaste of the joy that is to come.  

As the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews puts it:

‘Oherwydd ag un offrwm y mae wedi perffeithio am byth y rhai a sancteiddir.’

‘For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.’ (Heb 10:14)

Christ’s offering of Himself makes us holy. That offering is made present in the Eucharist, which is why we celebrate it. Jesus told us to do this, so that might be fed by Him, and sanctified by Him. 

So my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be nourished by Him in Word and Sacrament. Let us look forward to the joys of Heaven, and be filled with the love of God and love of our neighbours. Let this love form who we are and what we do. And let us also give praise and honour to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion and power, now and forever. Amen.