Author: admin

***

Gospel: Luke 21: 12-19

Jesus said to the crowd:
“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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

We’re in the midst of one of the most challenging chapters in all of the Gospels. Here, Luke is not writing about the crucifixion of our Lord, but something – selfishly speaking – even more difficult. 

Not God’s pain, but ours.

“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,” Jesus says.

***

What inspired such dark words from the Lord?

***

He’s just days from his death. While walking in the Temple with his disciples, one of them remarks how big and beautiful it is. No one expected what would follow. 

Suddenly, the Lord starts turning over tables, predicting the Temple’s destruction, and warning his disciples of widespread persecution to come. 

Sadly, he was right.

Much like the Titanic, which was considered “unsinkable,” the Jews couldn’t fathom God’s costly house of worship ever being toppled. Yet within 40 years of Christ’s predictions, not just the Temple, but also the city of Jerusalem was in ruins, caused by a Jewish uprising.

More than one-million people were murdered by Roman forces and another ninety-seven thousand were taken captive. In the heart of the Roman Empire, Nero burned Rome to the ground and used Christians as garden torches during his dinner parties.

We cannot fault Jesus for being honest – or right.

***

But if our focus remains solely on the pain of Christian persecution, then we’ll fall into the devil’s trap. All of the suffering in this world – from martyrdom to war, earthquakes, and famine – are like the pangs of birth. 

Out of this chaotic, fallen world, God is doing something new. As the Apostle John foretells in one of the final pages of the Book of Revelation, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away…Night shall be no more.”

As we prepare for this Advent season, we must remember what we celebrate. A savior is born to us. God has visited his people. Salvation is near. Eternal life awaits.

***

***

Image credits: (1) Dave DeSelm Ministries (2) Siege of Jerusalem, Francesco Hayez (3) Christ’s Kingdom and the End Times

***

Gospel: Luke 21: 5-11

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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Advent is almost upon us. This holy season is not only about preparing our hearts for the birth of Christ at Christmas. It’s also about preparing our hearts for his glorious return at the end of the time, as we hear in today’s Gospel.

Strangely, the “end” will not happen all at once. According to Christ’s predictions, it unfolds in three different stages.

***

The first “end” is the death of Jesus in the flesh. Once he cries out from the Cross, “It is finished,” and breathes his last, the world has come to an end for him, physically.

The second “end” is the destruction of the Temple, which Jesus predicts in today’s Gospel. “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.”

Less than 40 years after Christ made this prediction, the Temple was destroyed by the Romans. It has never been rebuilt. All that’s left today is a portion of the Western Wall, which remains a critical place of prayer for Jews. 

From a Christian perspective, the destruction of the Temple also brought about a symbolic and theological “end” to Old Testament worship as it was no longer needed. Saint Paul tells us, in baptism we become “living stones,” the new temple, body of Christ on earth.

The third “end” is what we often think of – the cosmic conclusion of the universe as we know it. 

***

How do I feel about the end of the world? 

Often it’s an uncomfortable topic. But Christians must put this into context; remember what is ending versus what is not.

What is ending are depressing things like sin and death. What is not ending is life. The Lord tells us plainly, “Whoever believes in me has eternal life.” Not here, but in heaven – a place of angels, light, and peace.

***

As this season of Advent approaches, may we say what we mean and mean what we say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” 

***

***

Image credits: (1) National Catholic Register (2) David Jeremiah Blog (3) Morning Devotions

***

Gospel: Luke 21: 1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

When we think about Vietnam, it’s easy to associate it with the 20-year war fought between the North and South, which the United States was drawn into for 8 long years. 

But the cross has long been part of Vietnam’s history. For centuries, Vietnamese Christians suffered under repressive regimes – from evil monarchs to Communism. 

Today, for example, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew Dung Lac and 116 of his companions who were martyred in the 19^th century. Among them were bishops, priests, missionaries, a mother of six, even a nine-year-old child.

In all, it’s estimated up to 300,000 ordinary Vietnamese were put to death since the 17^th century, refusing to renounce their faith in Christ.

***

So, what might their example say to us today?

***

Although Vietnam’s soil has been soaked by the blood of hundreds of thousands of martyrs, we only know the names of a few of them, like Andrew Dung Lac. 

They remind us that the Saints who line the halls of heaven are often ordinary people like us, who might be quickly forgotten in the annals of history, but never in the mind of God. 

As Jesus himself said, “You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.”

Secondly, sainthood is for any age. Records show that children as young as nine, perhaps even younger, have mustered up the courage to stand against their oppressors, clinging to their faith.

***

Like the widow in today’s Gospel, people of all ages have given their whole livelihood to God, which begs the question: How do we witness to our faith? When do we find it hard to be Christian? Have we ever put our cross down?

***

May the Vietnamese martyrs, known and unknown, pray for us.

***

***

Image credits: (1) FreePik (2) Asian Catholic Initiative, Archdiocese of Chicago (3) Come Let’s Pray