“This is an evil generation.” That’s a terrible indictment against anyone, and coming from Jesus himself is even more frightening. The context of the condemnation is the constant challenges the authorities faced demanding Jesus prove what he is saying. What he was saying is supposed to be good news: the Kingdom of God is here. Too good to be true for those who are very comfortable. Their status and life-style were in jeopardy. If the poor are to inherit the Earth, that is certainly a challenge to those who already own the Earth. It would require a complete change of heart to accept Jesus’ teaching.

We ourselves cannot be too complacent in our own days. Just to give one example:

There was a lot of diplomatic turmoil over the country of Iran, which was poised to acquire nuclear weapons. There were less muted complaints – or actions – against North Korea, which has nuclear weapons and is testing them.

It makes it difficult for those nations that have nuclear weapons to complain about those that want them. The U.S., Russia, Great Britain, Israel, Pakistan, India, France, and China all have in the aggregate thousands of nuclear weapons.

I am the last generation to have been born in a nuclear-free world. The first nuclear test explosion took place on July 16, 1945 in New Mexico.

Since then, at least eight nations have detonated 2,054 nuclear devices.  A large number of the early tests – 528 – were detonated in the atmosphere, which spread radioactive material throughout the atmosphere. Many of these tests took place not far from here – in the Nevada desert. Many underground nuclear blasts have also vented radioactive particles into the atmosphere and left contaminants in the soil.

Throughout history, at moments of social catastrophes, such as disease, war, famine, natural disasters, some people thought the world would come to an end. But this is the first time in history, that we ourselves could make that happen.

Personally, I consider this the greatest danger of our times. Maybe too great because it doesn’t seem to generate too much sustained concern.

But repentance is possible, using the literal definition of repentance: turn around.

Since 1996, there has been a treaty signed by applicable nations, not to test any nuclear weapons, above or below ground. It has not yet gone into force.

The United States is officially committed to a nuclear free world. That’s a positive step.

So, there is hope. There has to be hope, otherwise the possibility of this becoming the most evil of any generation remains hanging over our heads.

It is a noble cause to do repentance for this evil that is of our own creation. If we made these diabolical weapons, we can un-make them. If we do that in fact, then we can become the truly greatest generation.

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