Luke 21:5-19
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6“ As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. 9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”
10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify.
14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.
“I will give you words and wisdom”
This week’s Gospel refers to a major reverence and significance for the people of Israel, the Temple.
The Temple is considered God’s house on earth. All the people of Israel are ordered to visit there three times per year. It remains the sign of unity between the tribes, but also the center of unity between the tribes.
It seems natural to hear the disciples express their pride as they see the beautiful Temple building with its huge stones and pretty decorations. Jesus wants them to always go deeper in their thoughts and in their reasoning.
Didn’t he already say to them when they were walking together from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee on a Sabbath day, “I tell you that something greater than the Temple is here…for the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath” Matthew 12:6 & 8?
The worldly decorations, as pretty as they could be, and those who were very qualified when they made them, will vanish. The only thing or only one who remains is the Lord of both the Sabbath and the Temple.
Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of the Temple was fulfilled in the year 70 AD. We Christians do not need to fear destruction though. St. Paul considers the Church to be the body of Christ, and the faithful to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit that no one can destroy! Beyond that, He promised to give us words and wisdom in times of need.
This Sunday, how will we prepare ourselves for Thanksgiving as the body of Christ and the the Temple of the Holy Spirit?
Hopefully, we can go beyond external decorations and remember our blessings with gratitude in the deeper and true meaning of Thanksgiving.
Join mercy to sacrifice as the Lord Jesus Christ invites us to do when He quotes Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy not sacrifice” in Matthew 12:7.
Wishing you and yours a Blessed Thanksgiving time!