First Sunday of Advent

Inside the Gospels 1986

In 1986 a number of fictional short shorts under the title Inside the Gospel was published in the hope of renewing interest in Christ's message. The stories that appear here follow the same format, exploring the emotions of people seeking the divine healer.  

There will be signs . . .

His best friend wasn’t like other doomsday prophets who gave people dates and times. The bite of his words was usually mitigated by a contrasting promise of hope. Looking around the unkempt crowd, Bart wondered at the sudden downturn of his leader’s preaching. Even the Pharisees avoided discussions of the world's.

He realized that people were eager for the words, as if they had a sense of justice only calamity could answer. Perhaps the miseries that had fallen upon them needed to end, and they looked forward to that end. All the cures in the world couldn’t take away the daily drudgery humanity was consigned to. These listeners hungered for some sign that would end the boredom.

Another fellow preaching in the Northern provinces had offered hope. That smooth talker promised a quick fix and talked about doomsday happening during Tiberius’ reign, the monarch who had oppressed them far too long. Folks had followed him to the caves to hide out from the coming destruction. Took their whole families, even their flocks. Bart figured they’d have to wait forever or until the authorities rousted them. 

Bart worried about his friend’s preaching. There was hardly any difference between it and the crazy fellow’s offerings. He too spoke of the lights going out and weird happenings in the sky. Bart wasn’t into astronomy, but he knew when the sun darkened or the moon turned orange, it wasn’t a good thing. He had seen people terrified by such events, and his prophet was talking of people dying of fright.

He nudged his partner Matt, “Did I miss something?”

Matt, looking confused mumbled, “Hey, we’re all in the same boat.”

“You’re a fisherman, too,” Bart quipped, trying to ease the tension?

Matt shushed him, “Listen; just Listen!

“Raise up your heads and stand erect,” said their leader over the heads of the crowd of the beggars. Then, as if speaking only to them Jesus added, "Your redemption is at hand.”

Luke 21:25-28