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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings
First Reading: Malachi 3:19-20A
Responsorial: Psalm 98:5-9
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111719.cfm
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that the Temple will be destroyed. Now this is a really an important point for us to discuss. You see, “temple” is one of the central patterns of the Bible. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time in this podcast to discuss this in more detail. Suffice it to say, temple imagery flows through Scripture from the Garden of Eden as temple in Genesis, to Noah’s Ark as a temple, to the First Temple, the Second Temple and ultimately the resurrected Jesus as Temple. Indeed, in the Book of Revelation, when the new Jerusalem is described, there is no Temple in the new Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus is the Temple.
In the first part of today’s Gospel, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Second Temple. Why does this happen? To answer that, we need to understand Israel’s role as the chose people. They are “chosen” not for their own exclusive benefit. Israel’s purpose as the chosen people is to be a magnet to unite all the peoples of the world to God. According to the Bible, throughout history, the sin of the people disrupts Israel’s calling. Each time, this leads to purification – a cleaning out which of course means the destruction of the temple and starting over. So, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Second Temple, meaning that the sin of the people has reached a tipping point. Indeed, our first reading from Malachi tells us that, “the day is coming, blazing like an oven…and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” (Malachi 3:19-20).
But then the Gospel shifts. Those listening to Jesus ask when all these things will happen. Unbeknown to them, Jesus describes signs that will happen before his second coming. Yes, many of these signs come to pass before the destruction of the Second Temple, but as we understand this Scripture today, we believe he is speaking about his second coming. He describes the persecution his disciples will face. Indeed, in Acts, Luke describes the apostles rejoicing that they suffer on account of Jesus’ name, (Acts 5:41).
Our mission as disciples is to carry on come what may. Our first task is to spread the Good News. We must be beacons of light in a dark world trying to help lead everyone to the new Temple – to Jesus Christ. Jesus, healing the wounds of Original Sin, helps orient us back to right praise and worship of the Father. It is Jesus who will reign as Lord of all the nations. Our Gospel today points us to next weekend when we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Our responsorial tells us that the Lord our King will at last come to rule the earth with justice.
Homework! Fed by the Word of God proclaimed, and, in the Eucharist, and in anticipation of Advent, I encourage you to reflect on the following:
- Think about how you’d like to receive the message about the Good News. What would be helpful for you to hear?
- Use the ideas you come up with and combine them with your personal story of faith. Perhaps write this out but keep it brief – maybe 1 handwritten page. When you’re finished, you now have a basic script you can use to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Cool, right?
Okay, do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Then go and make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
Church teaching:
- Catechism of the Catholic Church: Christ is the true temple, 1197; the temple’s destruction a sign of the last days, 585; the Church persecuted, 675; times of the Gentiles, 58, 674.