The temple, the disciples see the external adornment, but fail to see the spiritual bankruptcy

behind the façade – the hypocrisy – the oppression the rejection of the Messiah.

No earthly kingdom can last, not even the temple will last forever.

The Temple of Jerusalem during Jesus’ time as the center of the southern kingdom’s spiritual life,

Yet Jesus correctly foretold its destruction.

That’s why we have to be on guard that our faith remains steady and strong through time.

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Revelation 14:14-19

Then, I had this vision.

I saw a white cloud, and the one sitting on it, like a son of man, wearing a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. An angel came out of the Sanctuary, calling loudly to the one sitting on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, for harvest time has come, and the harvest of the earth is ripe." He who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle at the earth and reaped the harvest.'

 

Then, another angel, who also had a sharp sickle, came out of the heavenly Sanctuary. Still, another angel, the one who has charge of the altar fire, emerged, and shouted to the first, who held the sharp sickle, "Swing your sharp sickle, and reap the bunches of the vine of the earth, for they are fully ripe." So, the angel swung his sickle and gathered in the vintage, throwing all the grapes into the great winepress of the anger of God.

 

Ps 96:10, 11-12, 13 The Lord comes to judge the earth.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 21:5-11

While some people were talking about the temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, "The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down." And they asked him, "Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?"

 

Jesus said, "Take care not to be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he; the time is near at hand!' Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and troubled times, don't be frightened; for all these things must happen first, even though the end is not so soon."

And Jesus said, "Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"The time is near."

The apocalyptic literature in the Bible uses bigger symbols in order to convey its message.

We encounter the use of such bigger symbols in our Gospel passage for today. It begins with what seems to be visible in people's naked eyes such as the temple. Yesterday, we reflected on the challenge to share our very self so that we can embrace the new life that God is offering us. We reflected on this in the context of the poor widow who gave her all, putting in what she had in the treasury of the temple.

 

Today, we are told that the temple was highly spoken of because of its beautiful adornments. Jesus began teaching a lesson on the new relationship being offered by God by predicting the destruction of the temple. Jesus warned his listeners not to be deceived. What is beautiful in the eyes could be deceiving.

 

The temple was beautifully adorned and people were deceived to praise its fine stonework and rich gifts but neglecting the demands of a truly ethical life. Jesus proceeded to speak of wars, great earthquakes, famines, plagues and other terrifying signs but not without the assurance that in the end we need not be afraid.