The destruction of the Temple foretold

Luke 21 5-19

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he 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. “Before all this happens, however, 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.

Discussion Questions:

1. How has your perspective and relationship with the “external-physical” symbols of faith, and the “internal-spiritual” reality they point to changed, as you’ve matured? Are you becoming less reliant on the things of this world that will pass away?
2. In what ways do you identify or struggle with the idea of the Temple as a place within you that cannot be destroyed?
3. When have you given testimony? Have you ever experienced a kind “wisdom in speaking” where the words were inspired and may have come from the Holy Spirit? Explain.
4. This reading is more about the meaning and future of our own sufferings than about being present at the end of days. Can you name specific ways your faith life is helping you to trust God will be present in the suffering that will come for you?

Biblical Context

Luke 21 5-19
Fr. Van Thanh Nguyen 

I am a planner. I like to prepare things in advance. When I am asked to give a speech or say a prayer, I prepare for it, making sure that my words fit the occasion. I do not like to speak off the cuff. So, to hear Jesus saying to his disciples to not prepare their defense beforehand when they are on trial (in Luke 21:14-15, Sunday’s Gospel reading) is shocking to me. Furthermore, what does he mean by “a wisdom in speaking” (stoma and sophian in Greek) that none of their adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict?

While the Greek phrase stoma and sophian is translated as “a wisdom in speaking” (NABRE), the literal translation is “a mouth and wisdom,” which are the actual words that appear in some Bible translations (e.g. RSV and NKJV). This pairing, when they occur together lexically, is believed to carry a special significance in antiquity. The one who is given this gift is empowered to speak clearly, appropriately, and eloquently. Consequently, Luke’s audience would have understood it to be divine-empowered speech.

Few people are born with the ability to speak wisely or concisely. The ancients believed that those who are not trained in rhetoric must rely on divine enablement. Moses, for example, admitted that he is “slow of speech and tongue” and felt unequipped to confront the Pharaoh of Egypt. However, God promised to put words into Moses’ mouth so that he can put the words into the mouth of Aaron to be his mouthpiece when they appear before Pharaoh. In the book of Wisdom, Lady Sophia empowered the mute to speak and even gave nursing babes the ability to speak articulately (Wis 10:21).

According to Luke, Jesus personifies wisdom. He is a prophet who grows in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people (2:52). Jesus knows when to speak and when to remain silent. As the early Christians prepared to be arrested and interrogated before governors and kings, they needed divine empowerment to defend Jesus’ name. Hence, Luke’s unique use of the phrase, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom,” would have been tremendously encouraging for the early Christians who are under duress. What Jesus promised in the Gospel (see also 12:12) will subsequently be fulfilled by the disciples in the Acts of the Apostles. Stephen in Acts 7, for example, was given the gift of eloquence to stand up to all his opponents. Similarly, Paul in Acts was given the gift of prudence in speech on numerous occasions, whether appearing before temple authorities or kings and governors (Acts 22:1; 24:10; 25:8, 10; 26:1, 24-25).

During Year C—the year of St. Luke—the Lectionary chooses the eschatological discourse of Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 for the First Sunday of Advent and closes the liturgical year with Luke 21:5-19. These Gospel readings, which deal with matters of the end times and emphasize the second coming of Christ, serve as bookends. As the liturgical year comes to a close, we are encouraged to bear witness to Christ in all circumstances. Although we might not be gifted speakers, there is no need to be anxious or worried, for Jesus himself gives the gift of prudent speech. We are simply called to boldly and plainly say what we believe!

Stone by Stone, God Rebuilds Our Temple

Reflection
Fr. Michael K. Marsh

We may not like it, we may deny it, we may resist it, but the reality is things are changing. Our world is changing, the church is changing, our lives are changing. Sometimes changes are welcome. But there are days when change brings loss or the fear of loss. There are days when our life is forever changed, the world is different, and nothing is like it used to be. You and I know those days. We could each tell stories about those days. They are stories about the death of a loved one, the diagnosis, a divorce, the business that failed, the job that was lost. They are stories about the day you realized the life you were living was not the life you wanted, the day someone confronted you with your addiction, the day you became the parent and caretaker to your own parent. They are stories of dreams and hopes that never came true.

We all have temples. Some have been given to us, others we have built for ourselves. Sometimes our temples are people, places, values and beliefs, institutions, dreams. Regardless, they are the things that we think structure and order our lives, give meaning and identity, provide security and stability. At least we think they do, until they fall.

Sometimes, after our temple falls, we look for a scapegoat, someone to blame or even demonize. So, we blame Muslims for violence in the world, and gay people for the conflict within the Church. Democrats and republicans blame each other as do the conservatives and the liberals. We look for someone or some group who does not think, act, or believe like we do. That is not Jesus’ response.

Some people will simply give up and walk away in despair. They can see nothing left. All is lost and the situation is hopeless. That is not Jesus’ response. Some will become angry, resentful, and fight back. Others will say this is God’s will or maybe even God’s punishment. Many will look for easy answers, quick fixes, something that will prop-up the old structures and ways of doing things. Again, these are not Jesus’ response.

Jesus’ response is just the opposite. Be still, be quiet, do not be led astray. Do not allow your life to be controlled or determined by fear. Do not listen to the many voices that would cause you to run and go after them. Endure he says. Be faithful, steadfast, persevere here and now. Jesus is calling us to be present and faithful in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. If we cannot find God here, in our present circumstances, even in the midst of our temple ruins, we will find God nowhere.

Endurance, perseverance, and stability are the ways in which we offer God the fallen stones of our temples. Stone by stone God rebuilds our life. Stone by stone God restores the original beauty of our life and the world. Stone by stone a new temple arises from the rubble. Stone by stone we become the temple of God. We no longer have temples. We no longer need them. We are the temple. That is the story that needs to be told. That is our opportunity to testify.

We can all tell the story of the day our temple was destroyed. Too often, however, we believe and live as if that is the end of the story. It will be if we run away, scapegoat, respond with anger, or try to put it back together like it used to be. But it does not have to be the end of the story. The greater story is how we discovered God next to us in the temple ruins and how, stone by stone, God rebuilt what we could not. It is the ongoing story of God recreating life out of loss and ruin, a story of God rejoicing and delighting in his people.

This story is the holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to you. It is real, sacred, and true. Trust that story, tell it over and over to yourself, proclaim it to all you see, and then go live that story.

Biblical Context, from Give Us This Day. Văn Thanh Nguyễn, SVD, is professor of New Testament Studies and the Bishop Francis X. Ford, MM, Chair of Catholic Missiology at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois.

Reflection excerpt adapted from; Interrupting the Silence by Fr. Michael K. Marsh, used by permission.