Luke 21,5-19.
The Temple in Jerusalem, the House of God, was an impressive building by any standards. The one standing in the time of Jesus (the third Temple) was built, for the most part, by Herod the Great, as much for political as religious reasons. Begun in 19 BC and mostly completed about ten years later, it was only fully finished in 64 AD, six years before it was demolished by the Romans.
According to Luke, Jesus has been teaching in the Temple since the beginning of Ch 20. When some people admired its fine stone work, its majestic monolithic marble columns, and its offerings ( e.g the great vine made of pure gold), Jesus took the opportunity to remind them that this magnificent Temple and city would be completely destroyed. They want to know when this will happen and what signs will presage it.
In answering them, Jesus clearly distinguishes this event from his second coming at the end of time. The destruction of the Temple and the Second Coming are two quite distinct events, although from Jesus’ answer, it seems that in some people’s minds the two were being confused and linked together.
Before the end comes there will be wars and revolutions, uprisings, earthquakes, plagues, famines, cosmic sights, and heavenly signs. Followers of Jesus will be persecuted, handed over to be tried by civil and religious authorities, imprisoned, betrayed by family and friends, and even put to death on account of the name of Jesus. They are not to worry about preparing a defence for themselves in advance because when the time comes, they will be provided with a divine eloquence and wisdom unmatched by their accusers. Hated they may be, and some may lose their lives, but they will gain eternal life. Their steadfastness will win them heavenly life.
By the time Luke wrote his gospel (c. 85 AD) some of the predictions of Jesus had come true. The Temple had been destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. after a long siege of Jerusalem during which tens of thousands died.
Nero, the infamous persecutor of Christians, had committed suicide in 69 AD, resulting in four claimants contesting his throne. Vesuvius had erupted in 79 AD destroying Pompeii. For Luke, possibly these, or similar events may be seen as partial fulfilment of Jesus’ prophecies, and most certainly, opportunities for fidelity and endurance, but not signs that the “end times” had come.
Two contemplative monks, while taking their daily recreation, were playing a game of cards. The question arose as to what each would do if he were told that the world would end in 30 minutes. One said he would go and find his Confessor and go to Confession. The other answered that he would continue playing his card game. What would you do?
The poet Thomas Gray in his poem “An Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard” reminds us that:
“The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e’er gave,
Awaits alike the inevitable hour:-
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.”
A healthy sense of the shortness of human life, and that the world will one day come to an end, should stir Christians to make the best use of the time and opportunities which God gives them/us and to trust in God’s providence for us and our world. As we live in the present we should work as if everything depended on us and pray as if everything depended on God.
Fr Geoff O’Grady