23
Nov
Nov
Reflection: Luke 21:5-11
Social unrest, financial insecurities are religious intolerances are few of the causes that disturbs peaceful coexistence in our society today. We are in the final week of the liturgical calendar and the Church wants us to reflect on the end of days and the end of the world. By the time that Luke wrote his Gospel, the previously unthinkable had happened. The temple of Jerusalem had been destroyed for more than ten years. Judaism had survived. The Christian disciples had survived, too, even though they had found themselves under acute pressure from their fellow Jews, before and after the destruction. Luke’s main concern was to point out that Jesus had foreseen the inevitable destruction of the temple – that is the actual physical building and, more importantly, the whole temple-based corrupt system that the temple had come to embody. Not only would the building be destroyed, so also would the oppressive religious and social structure. Jesus’ words are perennially relevant, even for us today, living in the 21st century too. Jesus repeats to us: “Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name” (v. 8). This Christian virtue of understanding is a call to discern where the Lord is, and where the evil spirit is present. The presence of false “saviours” who attempt to replace Jesus are all around us – people who promise magical results if we agree to follow them and their directions. Jesus warns us: “Do not follow them!”. Jesus tells us today, “All that you see here—the days will come when everything will be thrown down.” Our days here on this earth are not infinite. We are sometimes mesmerized by the glitter of our earthly existence, but the words of Jesus remind us that something better awaits us. If only we could live in this assurance, how many of our crosses would vanish! We get frightened and desperate when we let ourselves be led away by illusory promises, and by exaggerated fears. Of course, the Gospel presents a scary picture of wars, uprisings, strife, disasters – but then, he also gives us the promise that he will always be with us, until the end of times. He dispels all fears and banishes all lies. He is the Lord of life and history. And that makes all the difference. But our human tendencies lead us to be very anxious for the future. Difficult things happen to all of us–sickness, setbacks, missed opportunities. Yet, we shall not be scared because God our Father has been preparing a future for us from the very beginning, “plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). May we not be anxious but instead trust in the Lord.