November 25, 2014
Tuesday, 34th
Week in Ordinary Time
St. Catherine
of Alexandria
1st Reading: Rv 14:14-19
Gospel: Lk 21:5–11
While some people were talking about the Temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, “The days will come when there shall not be left one stone up on another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down.” And they asked him, “Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” Jesus then said, “Take care not to be deceived, for many will come claiming my title and saying: ‘I am he, the Messiah; the time is at hand.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and troubled times, don’t be frightened; for all this must happen first, even though the end is not so soon.” And Jesus said, “Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
The Jewish Temple was a marvel to behold. Its walls glittered when hit by the rays of the sun because it was made of gold and other precious stones. Because it was considered God’s house, a big budget was allotted to its construction in proportion to the palaces of kings and rulers. It was deemed inappropriate that kings should live in palaces while God should dwell in a shanty. Against the background of its marvelous beauty and impressive engineering, Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of the Temple came as a prediction of a calamity strong enough to decimate their strongest edifice. Alarmed they asked for exact dates. Instead of giving specific dates Jesus told them not to be frightened. As predicted, the Temple was destroyed.
Recent calamities happening to our worn out environment condition our minds to the possibility of great catastrophes to come. Jesus’ prediction is closer to home. But if there is anything spiritually beneficial we can draw out from the signs of the times, it should be the lesson on detachment from this temporal world. Calamities should slacken our attachment to material things and tighten our relationships with the needy and the oppressed.
The unmistakable sign of detachment is living generously whether in crisis or in abundance rest assured that God is never outdone in generosity. God himself will make sure that as He lives in a heavenly palace, those who are detached from this world and spend their wealth helping others will never live in a shanty in the kingdom to come. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email:dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website:www.frdan.org. Title: Beauty of God’s Temple
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