Out Our Way: Calving season - Revelation 21:1-5

Out our way, the New Year is truly a time of new beginnings - especially out in the pastures, for calving season is nearly upon us. It is a rough time for the ranchers who have to go out and pull calves in the dark and cold - not to mention how rough it is on the cows and the infant calves. But it is a time of celebration too as new life is introduced into the world.  

As we begin the New Year, many of us are dumbfounded at the dark times that are upon us. Like some, if not all, of those puzzled cattle Charlie and I had to chase and push out of their comfort zone, we likely protest and resist, complaining loudly like bawling cows that it isn't fair! But God keeps pushing us anyway, and like those young cattle who probably resented Charlie and me as "cruel and mean," we may think God is being nasty and vindictive. Well, you are not alone. Saint Theresa of Avila once cried out in frustration during a hard time in her life, "God, if this is how you treat Your friends, no wonder You have so few of them!" And then there was the Apostle Paul who complained about the thorns in the flesh he received while trying to do God's work. (2Corinthians 12:7-10). Yet as Theresa and Paul and countless others testify, though they did not understand and often resented the harsh times, they trusted God knew what He was doing even if they did not.  

Indeed, read the Scriptures and see that being God's chosen is never an easy way. We read of civil war destroying Israel as one nation after Solomon's death - and how in time 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel were lost as they ignored the prophets and blended in with their pagan neighbors. We read how the two remaining intact tribes - Judah and Benjamin - were conquered and taken into exile by the empire of Babylon - modern day Iraq - for 70 years. Talk about the dark ages! Yet within that darkness came "calving season" for the "faithful remnant." 

It was in the exile in Babylon that the Scriptures we now take for granted were written in their present form, and the Temple and priests were largely replaced with the synagogue - a place of prayer and study - and rabbis - scholars and teachers of the Scripture. The Temple had been destroyed, but the faith had not. Indeed it was a period of growth and rejuvenation. It was calving season. It was the Babylon captivity that truly sustained the Jews for thousands of years of persecution.

Now, in the recorded words of the prophets that were now read, studied and meditated upon, hope was found in the darkest of times. For there were promises from God that could be read, remembered and relied upon. One of those promises, written in the Book of Isaiah promised the day was coming when "The people who walked in darkness would see a great Light" (Isaiah 9:2). In the midst of pagan dominance over the Jews, prophecies of the Messiah - the King of the Jews - who would restore the Kingdom were read and over and over again. And for those who truly looked carefully, the Kingdom that the Messiah was to bring was not simply a restoration of Israel, but of the world - for the Kingdom of God was for gentiles as well as Jews. 

Returning to the Promised Land after 70 years in exile, the Jews lived under the power and control of pagan empires - first the Persians - Iran - then the Greeks of Alexander's empire, and finally the Romans. And then, in 70 AD, Judah was destroyed and her people scattered throughout the Roman Empire where they would wander for the next 2,000 years. Yet in the darkness of this second exile, it was "calving season" again. 

For among the Jews scattered across the Roman Empire, were those Jews who claimed the prophesied Messiah had come and the Light had been revealed in a man called Jesus. Exiled with their fellow Jews throughout the world, they preached what they called the " Gospel" - Good News - which was for all people (Luke 2:10).   

Yes, persecution of these followers of Jesus, Jew and Gentile alike, continued and many died. All the original disciples with the exception of John, were executed as was Paul. Yet the faith did not die. It was calving season. As an early Gentile Christian named Tertullian famously observed: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church."

There have been many dark times in history, but look deeply into those dark ages and see how often new life and new beginnings emerged. Yes, most of us would agree that we live in dark times these days, but remember, this is also "calving season."

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at bruingtonjohn@gmail.com.