"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (v. 31)

Here is the existential consummation of history. This is the frame of reference within which the early church lived and breathed. In the end it was the parousia, the event of Christ coming in glory. Things of earth would pass away. This would be the final reckoning, the ultimate judgment.

I always thought, as have most Anglo-Saxons, that the powerful Spiritual ran, "My Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall." It was not until a few years ago that I heard the actual words explained: "My Lord, what a mourning ..." Far from the idea of "Oh, what a beautiful morning, Oh, what a beautiful day," oh how lovely the world is; that Spiritual pictures a time of unbearable judgment. There will be mourning, moanin…