33rd Sunday in Ordinary: The End Times

11-06-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Lk 21:5-19

The historian Josephus agrees with the people during his time about the beauty of the temple. He writes: No one except Herod the Great adorned it better - that made the Jews proud of their temple. The massive white stones made it appear (from a distance) like a mountain covered by snow. Gold covers the façade of the sanctuary, and the entrance – is adorned with golden vines for votive offerings; gifts of golden grape clusters dedicated to God draped it.

While people were admiring the adornment of the temple, Jesus prophesied about its destruction in the future. He echoes His early prediction of the destruction of the city. 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 (Lk. 21:6). Josephus details this event during the siege of the city in 70AD. Herod the Great started in 20 AD the renovation of the temple in 20AD, and the rebuilding and extension were completed in 64AD, six (6) years before the Romans razed it to the ground. The imposing structure of the temple amazed the disciples; Jesus’ prediction of its destruction surprised them.

Jesus narrates in the Gospel about the signs of the end times and invites the disciples to have faith, not to panic, and not to be terrified, but to TRUST and persevere. Because by our perseverance, we will secure your lives. So that, when the signs start to appear, may we fix our sight on God, may we not waver in the belief that God is in control; and the hope of the creative wisdom of God? Be still and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10). He is in our midst. For every natural and human calamity, we need to listen to God. What is the Lord telling us as individuals, a country, and a community of nations?

As of this writing, many people died in the stampede in South Korea. A surge of people keeps coming to celebrate Halloween but unintentionally crushing and suffocating hundreds. Prayers and sorrow from our hearts go to the victims and their families. What was supposed; a party ended up being a tragedy, with the moans and cries of the victims crushed by the human surge. There is no sense for these people to die that evening. The many natural and human-caused calamities remind us that all is temporary in this life. Everything is passing; only the word of God will never pass away. (Lk. 21:33) He reminds us that everything and everyone in this world will pass away. May we have a good grasp of events in our lifetime, about truth and reality, and may the Lord grant us the wisdom to act according to His will. May it move us to live meaningful and worthy lives.

When God is in charge, everything will work out to the best; in the end. He knows right where we are; He knows how to get us where we need to be. There is no surprise with God, no setback in His plans, and nothing can derail His purpose because nothing is beyond His control. If only we pray as much as we worry, then we have nothing to worry about. Let us go beyond the present world and focus on Jesus, who assures us of the final victory. Final note: Live an orderly life and work hard, and serve selflessly.

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