“The Powers of the Heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud of Power and radiance (Glory).” ~ Jesus (Luke 21:26-27)

 

It is assumed by many Christians that this passage is speaking about Jesus’ ominous “2nd Coming”; that mythical time when he will descend from the sky in wrath & judgment – raising up the few that are “worthy” into Heaven, and casting out the many who are “damned” into the depths of Hell below … Of course, as Jesus himself noted on many an occasion in the Gospels, he believed nothing of the sort.

 

You see, for Jesus the “Kingdom of Heaven” was an internal state of being (see Luke 17:20-21 & Matthew 10:7 et al) and for Jesus the “Power” of that Heaven was the perfect Love of his heavenly Father (see Matthew 5:40-44 & Matthew 19:26 & Luke 1:37 et al) … As such, “the Powers of Heaven are shaken” in all those moments when we witness others neglecting the needy in favor of reaching out to serve them — or attacking their enemies instead of openly forgiving them — or ridiculing their opponents instead of extending them acts of Kindness …

And it is in just such moments of intense discomfort & fear – moments when Love is both blatantly available and desperately needed, and yet remains hidden & unenlivened – that “the Son of Man” is inspired to come in a “cloud of power & radiance” (see also Matthew 8:20,Matthew 9:6, Matthew 16:28, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:64 et al); phrasing that means either that it is the ego’s self-centered “Son of Man” that clouds the Soul’s impulse to supply the Love being neglected, or that the same “Son of Man” is in such moments inspired to blossom forth in a cloud of radiant glory – shining brightly through all fear & desire while lovingly doing for the other what our ego would have us not.

 

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt