Mark 13:1-8:
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” ² Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

³ When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” ⁵ Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. ⁶ Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. (From the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Well, that doesn’t sound good.

Everything the disciples are impressed by doesn’t really seem to matter to Jesus. “Oh, those stones? Yeah, I see them. They’ll all crumble into dust.”

Imagine being so excited or enthused about the grandeur and magnificence of something you’re moved to remark about it only to have your teacher and mentor respond by saying it is ephemeral and will end up in the garbage heap of history.

“What?!”

I imagine they got quiet. Still taking it all in with awe, but silently pondering what Jesus meant as they walked past and beheld the massive Temple. Their questions must have eaten at them as they walked away and up the hill to the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city. Four of them are so agitated, they screw up the courage to ask, “so when is this going to happen? How will we know when the time comes, Jesus?”

What were they expecting or hoping for with their questions? I don’t think it’s the response they receive…

“Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.”

“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines.”

“This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”

Our lectionary reading ends with those ominous words, but Jesus’ answer keeps going, only ending with repeated admonitions to “keep alert” and “keep awake.”

But those birth pangs…

There’s stress, worry, pain, and fear about what that process of labor will be like, how long it will last, what exactly will go right or wrong in the middle of it all, and who exactly will meet you on the other side. It’s a bit intimidating and overwhelming to know that the birth pangs will come and it will all be so sudden, with unpredictable timing and previously unknown sensations – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual… All of this even though you’ve been waiting for months and trying your best to prepare.

Yet, those birth pangs mark the beginning of something new arriving. They mark the welcome of someone long awaited and hoped for. Of someone prayed over and dreamed about. Of a new life adventure.

I’m hearing these words differently at this time in my life as I await the birth of our first child. The birth pangs definitely don’t sound like my favorite, but I know they are coming and I will have to go through them to welcome with joy the little person they’ll bring me face to face with.

And so I hear in Jesus’ words hope and promise: “You will go through difficulties and pains in this life. All that you know will be turned upside down. What impressed you at one point in time will not necessarily last or always hold your attention. Focus on what lasts. Focus on the One who will sustain you when chaos breaks out around and within you. Don’t be afraid of what may lie ahead. I am with you – now and always. I will meet you in your trials and sufferings. I will meet you in your joys and longings.”

This “Mini Apocalypse” in Mark’s Gospel has some frightening words. And as I look at the world, I know they were true in the past and they are true now. Yet, I also hear good news and assurance. I see hope, beauty, courage, and wonder in everyday people laboring in love with expectation and perseverance for the sake of God’s kingdom.

Maybe I’m a naive optimist or maybe (at my best moments!) tenaciously faithful, but I can’t help but wait and wonder about how in that labor of love we might meet Jesus face-to-face.

© Annabelle P. Markey