When you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. As we are approaching the season of Advent the messages to “keep alert” becomes more urgent. What do we see happening today? What are the signs of our times? On the one hand things seem to be going to hell in a handbasket — world-wide pandemic, war being waged, economic disparity, ongoing racism, political divisions, crime and violence. On the other hand humanity has made progress over the millennia. Slavery is universally condemned, capital punishment is recognized as inhumane, even the war-monger tries to disguise what they are doing as a “military operation,” a vaccine became universally available in just a few months. Maybe Dickens had it right: “it was the best of times; it was the worst of time.” No matter the times we are to be compassionate, generous, forgiving, loving.
