Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
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.
Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will
there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you
not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The
time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do
not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not
immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes,
famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs
will come from the sky.
“Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have
you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your
giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for
I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be
powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You
will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be
destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.
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Reflection:
There’s a story about a man who was full of cynicism, fear and worry.
Nothing occupies his mind except these three. He once was asked by a friend, if
he believed in God, he said: “No, I don’t believe in God.” When the friend asked
why, he answered: because no one has introduced me to your God or told me
anything about your God.
Near the man and his friend was another friend named Jessie a practicing
catholic who heard their conversation. He asked the fearful man if he could
spare an hour for him every Sunday evening so that he could share Jesus and his
catholic faith with him. The man said: “Yes I can give you may one hour or
perhaps not only one hour even more than one hour and let’s do it as soon as
possible.”
So it happened, on a Sunday Jessie went to his friend’s house and he
shared everything that he knew about Jesus and his Catholic faith. The man was
a very interested student he imbibed everything that was taught to him. And the
result was, it created a thirst for Jesus in his life.
The man read books that dealt with Jesus and the Catholic church
and it eventually led to his baptismal in the church. After his Baptism, the
man was not anymore fearful or worrisome for the reason that he already has
Jesus in his life.
In the gospel, Jesus speaks about the end times; he talks about the
fragility of life and the destruction of material things that surrounds it. He
also talks about persecution even death. Yet He tells them not to fear or worry
about it for He will take care of them.
End times scenarios are very real and it’s currently happening to many
people at this very moment. What is the cause of these hopelessness and
desperation? They do not know that there’s someone like Jesus who saves,
who inspires and who gives infinite peace of mind and hope.
We need to make a big difference in the lives of these people who do not
know Jesus yet; we need to introduce Him to them. Why? For the reason that countless
lives have been saved by Jesus with the help of those who were courageous
enough to share Jesus with them. But there are still many who are getting desperate
and who needs to know Jesus.
We therefore need to do something about it and not be worried of the
consequences. Because Jesus himself said this: You will be hated by all because
of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance
you will secure your lives (Luke 21:17-19). – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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