If you are of a certain age, you might remember a popular toy from the 1950’s called the Magic Eight Ball.  The Magic Eight Ball purported to provide a definitive response to any question about any current or future event. One used the Magic Eight Ball by shaking it and waiting for an answer to appear in a small aperture on the bottom surface of the toy.  As if by magic, the Magic Eight Ball would display a response that was irrefutable and impossible to disprove.   

The popularity of the toy owed to the fact that its limited number of predetermined responses were statements like “Without a doubt,” “Outlook good,” “Ask again later,” and “Don’t count on it.”  The ambiguity of the responses meant that predictions by the Magic Eight Ball might not be accurate, but they could never be wrong. 

There are passages of the Scriptures that sound uncannily like the predictions of the Magic Eight Ball.  We have examples in today’s readings. 

The first reading and the Gospel this Sunday are examples of a type of biblical literature called apocalyptic.  The word “apocalyptic” means revelatory.  Biblical apocalyptic is revelatory, but not in the way that might seem most obvious. 

Biblical apocalyptic often is misunderstood to be predictions about the future.  The cause of the misunderstanding is easy enough to see.  The first lines in today’s Gospel reading seem to describe future events that will happen, and be witnessed universally, very soon.  The Gospel says that all the heavenly bodies will be destroyed and the spiritual powers that govern the world will be vitiated.  These mighty portents will precede the triumphant appearance of God’s Chosen One who will “gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” (Mk 13:27) 

This prediction of the end of the world is scary stuff, but it’s also quite ambiguous. Jesus told his disciples that “this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” (Mk 13:30)  Then he said, “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mk 13:32)   

One would think that it would have to be one or the other, but not both that the world will end during the lifetime of the present generation or that the world will end at an unknown time.  This ambiguity is typical of apocalyptic; in fact, the revelatory nature of apocalyptic is a direct result of that sort of ambiguity. 

According to contemporary astrophysics, the universe will come to an end.  This truth is as definitive and unavoidable as it is indeterminate.  That the universe will come to an end is certain, but the time and manner of its ending is entirely uncertain.  The current estimate is that we probably have about 22 billion years before the universe collapses, or implodes, or explodes, or freezes, or falls to some other catastrophic end.  Astrophysicists caution, however, that their estimates could be incorrect.  They know something will happen, but they don’t know what will happen or when. 

If any firm truth is to be derived from the estimated calculations of astrophysicists, it is the same truth that plays out in our daily lives.  We live in a universe that is driven by uncertainty; the future is indeterminate and unknowable.  We can be certain of this uncertainty but, unfortunately, that knowledge provides no solace. 

As uncertainty is so disconcerting as to be an existential threat, our nature is to try to do something about it.  When faced with uncertainty, some people become anxious, others angry, some try to control the world, others give up on life.  These, and similarly frenzied attempts to deal with the randomness of the universe serve only to make one’s situation more uncomfortable. 

The Scriptures provide an unique perspective on the uncertainties inherent in the created world. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:31)  This is instruction about where to look for certainty in an uncertain world.  Jesus instructs us to place our firm hope in his teachings, and to rely on trust in God to provide solace in the face of uncertainty. 

Biblical apocalyptic literature is about the present time rather than about the future; it is expressed in ambiguous terms because it addresses the uncertainties of human existence.  The highly dramatic nature of biblical apocalyptic literature tells us to hold fast to God always, but especially when facing uncertainty.  In this sense alone, biblical apocalyptic literature is revelatory; it reveals how to live faithfully and justly when facing uncertainty.  The faithful response to life’s uncertainties is to find sure strength and certain solace in God. 

The sun and moon going dark?  The stars falling out of the sky?  Celestial powers made impotent?  Sounds like a typical day in my world.  Such conditions are not news, but there is good news about the vagaries of life in a finite universe.  There is a faithful and redeeming response to the uncertainties of the world.  The faithful response is to trust in God rather than in what is only temporary.