Thoughts On The End

The title may sound a little impressive, or pretentious.  It is triggered by the various “ends” coming our way these days: the end of the church year; the end of the civil year; readings and prayers about “the end of the world” or the “second Coming;” thoughts about our loved ones who died; thoughts about our own end, or the end of life of someone we love. There seems to be no end to ends, as they come one after another, unendingly.  Let’s briefly consider these ends one at a time. End of the church year—the Feast of Christ the King. Not a warm and inviting title for Jesus, is it?  At least, not to us, living in a long-established democratic regime, that began in time by overthrowing the king. Do we need another king?  Do we not have enough would-be kings in politics? For my part, I think that Jesus would far prefer the title, “Christ the Servant,” to “Christ the King.” Humility far more befits Jesus Christ than grandiose titles.  He rules by love. End of the civil year on 31 December, and New Year’s Day on 1 January. Why these dates? Did you know that in our civilization, we used to celebrate New Year’s Day at other times —especially at the winter solstice, or at the beginning of spring? When does one year end and another begin? Years seem to be part of an endless cycle of change, or at least a very slow winding-down of cosmic time.  A year might usefully be said to end at either the summer or winter solstice. I could see our Old Year ending on 21 December, and the New Year beginning around 4:00 p.m. on 21 December this year—the actual time of the winter solstice near Great Falls, Montana. What we call the end of the year is literally relative in space-time. “The end of the world.” What does this phrase really mean? If nothing else, it indicates that the person who uses the phrase may need to do more thinking before opening his or her mouth. I find phrases such as “change the world” or “the end of the world” virtually meaningless, quite empty-headed. What is “the world”?  What possibly could constitute “the end of the world?” Would everything that exists cease to be? Would that be the “end of the world?” What about God, or that which simply is, and has no end? Is God all that has to be? Yes, that is why God is called “absolute being,” or “necessary being.” Only God is and has to be.  Everything else? Each in time has its beginning, middle, end. But is there an end to everything that exists, altogether? No one knows but God, who brings all things into being. Our ignorance is legendary, known by all creatures, it seems, except to us human beings. And then there is the so-called “Second Coming.” When we hear this bizarre phrase, what possible meaning can we assign to it? Second coming of Christ? Why not his third, or thousandth, or billionth coming? It seems to me that Christ is ever coming into the world, into any heart or mind that is open enough to let Him squeeze in. Surely it is ever wise to “prepare to meet your God,” in the words of the ancient prophet, Amos. To me that means now, or in the famous words of Martin Luther King, “Not tomorrow, not today, but now.”