Signs Of The End

 Luke 21: 5-11

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

⁵ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶ “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Imagine hearing that the beautiful Temple of Jerusalem would be destroyed so completely that not one stone would be left on top of the other. It would be the same if someone said that about the Capitol in Washington.  We've already seen the obliteration of the Twin Towers in New York, so we already have knowledge that such complete destruction is possible.

We also know of our propensity to want to know the ending as soon as possible, be it of a book, a movie or even our own lives. As we wind down this liturgical year and prepare for the new one beginning on Sunday, we want to jump ahead and know what's coming, especially this year, with the Pandemic increasing in intensity spurring our longing for it to end to fever pitch. Jesus gave the people a list of signs, all of which have recurred over and over again, but here we are, still walking the planet, still receiving chance after chance to "get it", but we don't.  Perhaps this year will be different, for we have been rocked out of our complacency to what could and must be major changes in our lives.  It's time for us to take the warnings of Jesus seriously, lest we become a pile of rubble like the Temple.

Bro. Rene