Word to the Wise
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - Tuesday in the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
[Dan 2:31-45 and Luke 21:5-11,1128]TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2015 DOMINICAN MARTYRS OF VIET-NAM [Daniel 2:31-45 and Luke 21:5-11. Dominican locations may have special readings] 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." [Luke] Jesus' comments about the temple can be understood in more than one context. The temple was still undergoing renovation begun by Herod the Great, but enough of it was finished in Jesus' time to be a wonder to country folk from Galilee! It would be hard to imagine such a magnificent building reduced to rubble, but that is what eventually happened as a result of ill-fated revolts against Roman occupation in 66-70AD and 135AD. To many of the time, it would have been the end of all things. But the Jewish faith survived because of the Pharisees who emphasized Torah over temple. A second context is the reminder that all temples are merely buildings that can crumble and will not last forever. However, Jesus will last forever and will return at the end of time. His comments are made during his last days of earthly life. They are a further reminder not to be easily misled about his return because of natural or human-made catastrophes. Friends often comment to me about their visits to Rome and particularly St. Peter's Basilica. It has survived war and earthquakes, but it will not survive the Second Coming. We'll have a better venue after that. AMEN
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