Luke 21:5-11
While some people were speaking about how the Temple was
adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you
see here -- the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another
stone that will not be thrown down." Then they asked him, "Teacher,
when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are
about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for
many will come in my name, saying, ’I am he,’ and ’The time has come.’ Do not
follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for
such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines and plagues from
place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
* * *
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this special
time I have with you. It’s one of the few calm moments of the day. Your
presence reassures me that I don’t have to endure the trials of the day alone.
You are my strength and my peace. I wish to abide in your love.
Petition: Jesus,
help me to keep hoping despite the crises in my life.
1. Temple
of Doom: For the Jews, the Temple in Jerusalem was
the center of religious and cultural life. It contained the Holy of Holies, the
sanctuary that once housed the Ark of the Covenant. The people were proud of
the Temple, but Jesus warns them that the day will arrive when it will be
destroyed (as indeed it was, in A.D. 70). Yet the end of the Temple will not be
the end of religion. Jesus himself will remain with us, as he does to this day,
in the Eucharist. Likewise, no matter what else passes away—our house, our
office, our school —Christ remains. Does that belief fill me with confidence?
2. Be Not
Deceived: Jesus doesn’t directly answer the
question about when the Temple will be destroyed. Rather, he tries to get his
listeners to focus on what is really important: their faith. Our Lord warns
them not to listen to the wrong people. Throughout the course of a normal day,
to whom do we listen? Whose voices are on our radios, our TV sets? Who really
has our ear day–by-day? Worldly talk-show hosts? The news media’s "instant
experts"? Hollywood stars? Jesus cautions us that the people we listen to
might affect the quality of our lives — and the quality of our eternity. Do I
judge carefully, then, the voices I listen to?
3. Do Not
Be Terrified: Terrorist attacks, wars, abortion,
euthanasia, natural disasters-- is the world a nicer place today than in Jesus’
time? Our Lord was no stranger to bad news. He knew about the tower in Siloam
that killed 18 people (see Luke 13:4)--and he knew what awaited him on Good
Friday. Yet he always remained hopeful and encouraged the best in people. As
his followers, we too must be witnesses to hope. We need to brighten the lives
of those around us. More importantly we need to remind others that God will win
in the end. "Good, not evil, has the last word," Pope Saint John Paul
II told the general audience of Oct. 17, 2001, "God triumphs over the
hostile powers, even when they seem great and invincible."
Conversation
with Christ
Lord, I know in my mind that you will win in the end. If only my heart
would believe that, too! Grant me this grace. Grant that my life will show that
kind of optimism at every moment.
Resolution: I will make a
small sacrifice or offer up a special prayer for someone suffering today.