Tuesday of the 34th Week of Ordinary Time – Luke 21:5-11
As the end of the current Church year comes close, the Gospel readings begin to focus on the “end times.” Today’s Gospel begins with people commenting on the adornments of the temple and votive offerings. After hearing their words, Jesus makes a statement that must have been unsettling to his listeners. He said: “All that you see here, the days will come when there will not be left stone upon stone upon another stone. All of the stones will be thrown down.”
Naturally his disciples said: “When will this happen? What signs can we look for so we will be prepared?” Jesus then tells his disciples to “beware.” He says: “Many people will come and try to deceive you, saying ‘I am he’ or ‘The time has come.’ However, do not follow them.” Jesus also predicted that “one nation will rise against another nation. And there will be earthquakes, famines and plagues.”
Jesus’ description sounds like the state of our world today. Nations are at war. Men and women are starving and living in destitution. Every day women, men and children are abused physically, sexually, and emotionally. Numerous people are killed on the streets. And as we well know, the United States is not an exception. All of this and more happens every day in the United States. Yet we claim to be civilized, a “first world country.”
Today Jesus encourages us to “seek what will last,” to seek what is good and loving. If each one of us did this, we might change our hearts, our country and perhaps our world. What will we choose today? Or will we simply maintain the status quo?
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