Proper 28

16th November 2025

Reflection with readings below.

What is the future that lies ahead? 

Is it a future that brings us fear?

Perhaps we fear the future because the simple passage of time will age us and bring with it the frailties and challenges of old age? Or maybe we at the younger end of life and fear that soon we will have to take on responsibilities that will take time and energy away from simply doing what we want, knowing that someone else will ensure we have food, clean clothes, warm accommodation etc.

Perhaps we fear the effects of climate change – extremes of turbulent weather, food shortages, floods and rising sea levels, more infectious diseases, the loss of nature?

Perhaps we fear the effects of the rising cost of living, of not being able to afford food, or housing, or travel or even children?

Perhaps we fear the threat of war and violence, the terrorisation of right wing politics that seek to divide and oppress?

Perhaps we fear the end of the world?  Maybe even Armageddon?

On the other hand, perhaps we have high hopes for the future. Perhaps we can envisage a world that is fairer, where nature flourishes, where everyone has food and water, shelter and healthcare, education and valued employment? Perhaps we can envisage a world where war and conflict exit only in history books? Perhaps we can envisage a world where everyone rose to the challenge of the climate crisis and secured for all future generations a stable, amenable climate? 

In the second temple era, which includes Jesus’s earthly lifetime, there were at least two views amongst Jewish groups as to the end of time. On the one hand there was the view that things on earth would get worse and worse – fire, wars, plagues etc – until there was a final day of destruction when only those who have remained faithful, would be saved and would enter God’s kingdom. On the other, there was a view that as more and more people understood and took on board God’s wisdom, more and more people would turn to God – worshipping at God’s holy mountain – and that a new era of peace and prosperity on earth would materialise: heaven on earth. And any combination in between. I think the same polarity exists today within the broad expanse of Christian beliefs.

Today’s passage from Isaiah describes a positive hope for the future, a future where things – people, wildlife and ecosystems – will all flourish as God creates a new heaven and a new earth. This comes after the earlier part of the chapter which focuses on how suffering in various forms will afflict those who go against God’s will 

Today’s gospel also focuses on the destruction and suffering that lies ahead for the world but links that with the opportunities for Jesus’s followers to preach the gospel – the goods news that teaches us how we can create a better world. To be active in this way, to maintain confidence that what we try to do to create a better world in the way Jesus envisages, is at times hard. Both hard to achieve and hard to remain hopeful, is difficult. But then Jesus doesn’t promise that it would be otherwise! On this passage Jesus is once again urging his disciples to remain focused on God and to remain open to receiving that wisdom, that guidance from God. And whilst not articulated, to find strength through the support of each other. The disciples have been chosen by Jesus to be a group who journey together, who eat together, pray together, ask questions and seek answers together.

Isaiah 65:17-25

For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth; 

the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind. 

But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating; 

for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.

I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people; 

no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.

No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; 

for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.

They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat; 

for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 

They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity; 

for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord–
and their descendants as well.

Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear. 

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent– its food shall be dust!

They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain, says the Lord. 

Canticle 9 

The First Song of Isaiah   

Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid. 

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defence, *
and he will be my Saviour. 

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation. 

And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; 

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted. 

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world. 

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

Luke 21:5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, `I am he!’ and, `The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.”