Let These Gifts to Us Be Blessed

Rebecca Sheridan
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Luke 21:5-19

    Recently, I found myself on the Cross Bronx Expressway on a Wednesday at 5:30PM.  I have now made it a life goal to never put myself in this situation again, if I can help it!  When I am in stressful situations where I know others are also stressed out, I pay attention to others’ reactions and how they are dealing with, for example, New York City rush hour traffic.  Occasionally, you have the kind person who will let you in when you are somehow supposed to cross four lanes to catch your exit.  There are people on their phones not paying attention or blaring loud music to pass the time or calm themselves down. Then there are the loud ones who probably need some anger management classes – honking, yelling out the window, even when there’s clearly nowhere to go or no one to blame – you just have to get through it.
    What helps us get through difficult times, especially when we are presented with challenges we can’t control?  When we find ourselves in anxious or even scary situations, how does our faith help us respond with resilience?  Because getting stuck in rush hour traffic is one thing.  Dealing with a health crisis in the family, or job loss or other personal hardship is another.  Our scripture readings this morning at first read are quite ominous.  Jesus does not sugarcoat reality for his disciples.  The rebuilt second temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed, in 70 AD, as Jesus predicts here in Luke.  We have experienced war, earthquakes, famines, and plagues that Jesus warns of, still today.  Christians have been persecuted for their faith, and some still are.  All of the disciples except John are martyred for their faith, as Jesus foretells.  
Our scripture readings for today caution us about being “so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.”  We yearn for an end to suffering, yet Jesus calls us to live in the real present rather than the ideal future.  Our scriptures remind us to pay attention to God’s judgment in addition to God’s mercy and hold them in tension with one another.  So, what do we do as people of faith when things seem to be falling apart?  In our gospel for today, we pay attention to Christ’s warnings, and then we look for ways Jesus is trying to prepare us for both the inevitable trials we will experience in life as well as our ultimate end.  This could be the end times and Jesus’ second coming, as we discussed last week, or simply preparing for our end, our death.  
Jesus says “they will put some of you to death” and then “not a hair of your head will perish.”  He is not contradicting himself, but rather encouraging us to trust in the gift of the resurrection.  “By your endurance, you will gain your souls.”  This is the key of faith in difficult times – our faith and trust in Christ helps us to endure, especially when life is truly difficult.  Rather than acting out with uncontrolled anger, displaced blame, and hurting others (as in my traffic jam example!) as Christians we can still be a positive witness to Christ, live generously, and share our hope in the resurrection and the coming of the sun of righteousness, who has healing in his wings.
    Last week, I touched on the beginning of the traditional table prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, let these gifts to us be blessed.”  We can pray constantly, “Come, Lord Jesus” to be aware of Christ’s presence with us now as well as pleading for him to come again in his fullness.  What helps us endure in the meantime is to look for the gifts and blessings of life even in hard times.  While our scripture readings initially hit us as harsh today, the gifts of God are there – we just might have to look a little harder for them.
    What helps us to not only endure, but thrive when things are falling apart is remembering and giving thanks to God for our gifts.  Even in the face of death, Jesus assures us, we have the gift of eternal life: “By your endurance you will gain your souls.”  In a troubling time in the early church in Thessalonica, these Christians were encouraged to “not be weary in doing what is right.”  Our faith helps us not be weary in doing what is right even when things seem to be falling apart.  Our psalm for today encourages us to rejoice, sing, and shout with joy – even when life is difficult.  Joy, hope, and love are gifts of faith, different from happiness and wishful thinking.  The Lord’s coming to judge for us as people of faith is a joyous occasion.  God has the victory, and his love and faithfulness are steadfast.  These are the gifts and blessings from God we treasure and cling to especially when we are going through trials.  As we near Thanksgiving, take time to list – write down or tell God aloud – the many blessings you are thankful for.  Gratitude helps us to live faithfully, joyfully, and enduringly.  When we are grateful to God, we are aware of our many gifts.  We are able to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. Let these gifts to us be blessed.  This helps us respond differently with less anxiety, anger, and fear when things fall apart.
    I hate grocery shopping.  No matter how quickly I think I can “just pick up a few things,” it generally takes me at least an hour, and it starts with an often-crowded parking lot, before I even get in the door.  It puts me in a bad mood, admittedly.  I am aware of this “triggering” situation for me!  So, before I grab my cart and go in, I take a few deep breaths.  It takes me longer when I wait my turn and let other people grab that produce before me.  Usually, I find someone looking for something.  I try to help them find it.  That person, who is usually also quite grumpy, may then ask me if they can help me find anything.  The person who I let pass in a crowded aisle or who is also waiting in a longer line gives me a smile and visibly relaxes.  In anxious situations, our faith helps us not only endure, but becomes contagious.  The waiting, the unknown, and living in tension and uncertainty is definitely not easy.  We can choose to take on the anxiety, fear, and shame-blame of the world around us, or we can choose to live life differently – generously, gratefully, aware of God’s many blessings and gifts in the midst of it all.  The world may be falling apart, but our God has the victory.  By our endurance, we will gain our souls.  Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. Let these gifts to us be blessed!  Amen.