Our reaction to turbulent times
Luke 21:5-11. November 22, 2022 - Tuesday, Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
In the last week of our liturgical year, we revisit the topic about the end of the temple in Jerusalem. That temple was built by those who returned from the Babylonian exile in the second half of the sixth century BC. In the year 18 BC, Herod the Great began a huge project of enlarging and beautifying the temple that continued after his death. Some historians indicate that it was finished just before the first Roman-Jewish war began in 66 AD.
The years leading to that disastrous war that the Jewish zealots started against the Romans were extremely turbulent. The Roman historian Tacitus tells us about four emperors being slain, civil wars inside Italy, and foreign wars on the borders of the empire. The Jewish historian Josephus tells us about the abuse of power by the Roman procurators and false prophets who encouraged people to fight the Romans promising them God’s deliverance. Jesus’ disciples didn’t fall for that trap. They remembered Jesus’ words: "it will not immediately be the end". Therefore they continued to proclaim the Gospel.
Listening to this passage in the 21st century, after countless wars, famine, plagues and earthquakes that devastated one generation after another, and hearing about famine, conflicts, and earthquakes in different parts of the world, should we believe that the time has already come? There is a constant temptation to try to associate those signs that Jesus spoke about with a particular period of history, but it has never proved successful. The old worlds are replaced by the new ones. Or as the wise Kohelet put it “generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever” (Ecc 4:1).
“Don’t let anyone deceive you” and “do not be terrified” are the two statements of Jesus that stand out from today’s Gospel. We also live in turbulent times. We also see the abuse of power in many places of the world. We also hear voices encouraging us to stand up and fight and there are many false prophets and messiahs that promise are better future and heaven on earth. Are we on our guard against them? Do we hold on to the truth of our faith that Jesus is the Lord of history, that might empires come and go, but the Church will stand forever?
Tomorrow Jesus will tell us more on this topic, but in the meantime let us pray: “Jesus, I trust in you”.