November 16, 2003; 23 Pentecost B Readings: Daniel 12: 1-4a, 5-13; Hebrews 10:31-39; Mark 13:14-23; Psalm 16.   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith Prayer and Action Meet Interesting readings for our Annual Meeting Sunday! Generally, I find that talk about the end of time does not lead to great ministry or planning for ministry. Maybe that's why Jesus did not want his disciples to spend much time on this topic. Jesus was much more interested in having his disciples follow his instructions for living. "Be alert. I have told you everything." Jesus has told us everything that we need for life and ministry, but we must be alert; we must be discerning, to stay faithful to God's call to us. Discernment is the point where prayer and action meet. To know the will of God, discernment is needed. We need to pray and consider what God's will for us might be. The raw material for our prayer is based on what we know about who God is and who we are. We need to consider our past, our present, and the possibilities in our future to be discerning people. In our gospel reading today, we hear Jesus say, "Be alert; I have already told you everything." We need to be alert to the reality of our lives and to the presence of God in our world in order to do the will of God. It is so easy at be distracted by that which is not essential. Our reading from Mark's gospel is known as the little apocalypse. Apocalyptic writing focuses on the end of time. Since the time of Jesus and before, people have tried to predict the end of the world based on scripture. Jesus is clear with his disciples that the hour is not for them to know. Jesus warns that false prophets will try to lead the elect astray by claiming to know all. Jesus has told us everything that we need to know. We are not to get caught up in wondering about the end of our lives or the end of time as we understand it. That is not our concern. Jesus instructs us to preach the gospel and strive to follow as he has led. False prophets abound in life. They are the ones who play on our worse fears. I have known people who were false prophets in my life. Those were the people who focus on the negative. And when I lose my focus on God, and let secondary concerns rule my life, I become my own false prophet. Jesus brings us back to himself, by reminding us to be alert. He says, "I have already told you everything." Be alert, not only to what is going on right now, but also to the life that you have through Christ. Jesus is the one who has given everything so that we might be saved from sin and death. Jesus is the one who has taught us to forgive each other and to trust in God. Most of the people in the last two thousand years who have talked about the end times have done so to produce fear in those who would listen. Fear, guilt and anxiety get in the way of discernment. Fear, guilt, and anxiety are the false prophets that can distract us from our mission. We are called to be alert so that we can discern God's will for us today. There is a distinction between fear and appropriate concern. We must evaluate our situation honestly so that we can respond appropriately. Some of what we will hear about during our annual meeting should be the cause of some concern. We need to be concerned in the sense of being attentive to reality. We are called to be responsible about our life together. Be alert-to the reality of your life-and be alert to reality of God's life at work in you, in our community, and in our world. If we neglect to be alert to God, and focus only on our concerns, fear can be the result. Good discernment is the result of understanding life from the faith perspective. Be alert to the presence of Christ in your life. I'll conclude with a prayer by David Adam, Vicar of Holy Island, which is located off the east coast of England. It is taken from his book, Tides and Seasons (London: SPCK, 1989, p. 56) "Christ the Giver" If Christ be in your heart Glory fills your days For he is the King of Glory. If Christ be in your mind Peace is in all your ways For He is the Prince of Peace. If Christ be in your deeds Joy your life will raise For He is the Giver of Joy. If Christ be in your will Strength of purpose stays For He is Sender of Strength. Amen.