THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Tuesday of 34^th week in Ordinary time, 2021

Dan 2:31-45
(Ps) Dan 3:57-61

Luke 21:5-11

Not one stone

Dear friends in Christ, as we come to the final week of the liturgical year, it is proper to reflect too on the end of the world and of our lives.

Today’s Gospel (Lk 21: 5-11) presents the end of the world on various levels. In it one could see clearly the prophesy of the chaotic and painful experience that came, when the Romans destroyed the Jewish temple in 70 AD. For Christians at least, this represented the end of the Old Testament era, with its cultic Temple rites. Secondly, there are hints also of the final, cosmic end of the world, with falling stars and the dimming of the sun and moon. Finally, in both of these endings, we see the elements of the end of our own earthly world in the event we call death.

The words of Jesus concerning the destruction of the temple comes within the context of the bystanders, who were marvelling at the magnificence of the temple. Beautifully and rarely adorned with noble stones, the temple boasted of sacrifices from everywhere and of all kinds, from returning Jews and those who dwell in Jerusalem. It could be very disheartening, to listen to the response of Jesus concerning this beautiful temple and to contemplate its destruction. No wonder the Sadducees raised it as one of the charges against Jesus at his trial. To predict the destruction of the temple, is also a prediction of war. A war that will be so fierce that the Jews will not be able to defend the temple. A war waged by a nation so powerful that the Roman soldiers who stood sentry there, will be unable to offer the help needed to save the temple from destruction. Jesus told them, “As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here, one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.”

That made the disciples anxious about when this was to take place, but Jesus also warned that they do not listen to those who might try to play on others by claiming to know when the time will be. He further predicted wars and earthquakes and pestilence as signs of the end-time. Many times, we have heard of predictions about the end of the world but just as Jesus had said, the end is not so soon. What is important is for a Christian to live as though everyday were the last and so be prepared and ready at all times.

Let us pray: Thank you Lord for the gift of this day, help us to live it to the fullest and your glory. Amen. 

+Remain blessed