Santa Rosa hosts first of its kind visit
November 16, 2018
Connecting soul, spirit and body
November 16, 2018

33rd Sunday of OT (B)

Hold on to His promise MARK13:24–32

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
His Word does not return to Him empty but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it (Isa 55:11). What an assurance!

God promises that regardless of how bleak, how challenging, how unnerving the circumstances are, He WILL stay true to His word. He will rescue. He will deliver. He will redeem. He will make all things new.

Note the word ‘will’ is used in this Gospel passage. It is used both in the context of the certainty of encountering difficulty throughout life and also of God keeping His promise.

Difficult times are guaranteed but God’s promise is a guarantee too. One of my favourite podcasts to listen to is a Lifeteen XLT entitled ‘Grace is Not Always Gentle’ where Mark Hart speaks of this exact thing.

He describes the reality of the Christian life where following Jesus means that we will have troubles and suffer—not only if we mess up, or if we don’t listen, but even if we live a saintly life. He continues to say “in fact, if you live a saintly life, you’re probably going to suffer even more”.

Mark also references John 16 where Jesus tells His disciples that they will weep and mourn after He leaves but after this, there will be joy! A joy that no one will take away from them! Being a disciple of Jesus Christ does not make us immune to suffering but it does give us hope. Hope in something that is certain—Jesus.

You may be holding on waiting on God’s promise to come to pass but do not lose hope. Take courage that what He has promised you, He will deliver. Isaiah 43:26 says “Put me in remembrance…” It’s not that God forgets His Word. He already knows what He has said, but He wants to make sure that you remember what He has said.

Remind yourself both of the power of Almighty God and His ability to do whatever He wills, and that what He has promised you, He will accomplish—in His time. Trust that He knows best and that He cares for you.

Have faith and understand that whatever trials you are enduring or will endure in the future, He has permitted to occur. You may not understand now but trust in God’s providence.

Isaiah 66:9 says “I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born.” We also read in Romans 8:28 “God works all things for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”

So take courage! Surrender your plans, hopes, worries and concerns to Him. Surrender to the One who sees all, knows all and will deliver. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19).

Lord I believe, help my unbelief.

The Gospel Meditations for November are by Khadine Bovell, a parishioner of St Joseph RC, St Joseph who serves as an assistant coordinator in the Youth Choir and a teacher-in-training with BOMA-TT.