The gospel is written to a people in despair. Things are not as they should be. The kingdom that had appeared so close for a while suddenly seems distant and unattainable.
Persecution is an everyday reality.
The reading goes on to warn us of wars, earthquakes and famines. When we hear predictions of the end times on the lips of Jesus we are bound to think of real human experiences in our own time. Many people waited with fear and trepidation as the New Year was ushered in. Such fears and the rumours that result from them can cause despair. But if we really hear the message of the gospel it is one of great hope.