As we approach the end of the liturgical year, many of the readings encountered at Mass may seem rather apocalyptic, looking towards the end…..the end times; end of an era. The context of today’s gospel is that we are coming to the end of Jesus’ ministry. We are fast approaching the cross. Apocalyptic scripture may seem devastating; it is very often imagery based and yet while it seems to be very violent and full of suffering, there is also always a message of hope alongside the stern warnings we may read or hear. Today’s gospel is no exception as Jesus foretells destruction, tribulation, family rifts but promises the hope of life eternal for those who remain steadfast in following Him. And our very short Old Testament reading from Malachi has the same warning followed by hope – ‘all the arrogant and evildoers will be stubble’ while the ‘sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings’ for those who remain in fear of the Lord.

In today’s gospel, Jesus is foretelling destruction and devastation, and it may appear that this is a foretelling of the eschaton, the end times, as Revelation portrays it. But the majority view of scholars and theologians is that Jesus is foretelling the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the very Temple which is being so admired and revered by His companions. This Temple (not Solomon’s Temple, that one was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC) – this Temple is the second Temple which was completed around 516 BC. It was then expanded by Herod the Great over a period of a number of years into the majestic, imposing structure being admired. And this is important. The Temple – so beautiful and magnificent was nonetheless impermanent. Jesus tells of its total destruction, stone by stone. Now to the Jews, this would have been almost an anathema; imagine the total destruction of places or buildings that we revere (and I’m sure there will be a variety of thoughts as to what they may be) but it would have seemed like the destruction of everything that the Jews held dear, something which was deemed to be representative of the permanence of God’s power. But it was manmade, and nothing which is manmade is permanent. The Temple is a building, a structure, a thing and by its very being it is impermanent.

Its destruction along with the routing of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70, had profound consequences for Judaism, heralding the end of the Jewish national state for nearly 1900 years and it also brought about a move in religious practices from the Temple into the synagogues.

As Jesus’ discourse continues, He foretells great woes, catastrophes, wars, uprisings, nation against nation, famine, earthquakes – sound a bit familiar…? But He says that these events are necessary. They must take place before the Parousia – the coming of the eternal Kingdom. He warns us not to panic, not to be led stray by the ‘noise’ and in particular not to be drawn towards anyone who promises a quick fix, a simple immediate answer. These are the false messiahs. The constant crises of the world are the necessary chaos leading towards the coming of Christ’s eternal Kingdom. But Jesus tells His followers, and us, that the more personal trials and tribulations that they/we will undergo will be opportunities to proclaim the good news. ‘This will be your opportunity to bear witness.’ For them/us to use the ridicule, persecution to proclaim for Jesus. And this is not easy, believe me. Now I’ve never been persecuted for my faith, but I have been ridiculed, or rather God/Jesus has been ridiculed to me. And I have felt ill equipped to stand up for my faith, felt unable to rationalize my beliefs. I never had the self-confidence to stand up for my faith, for Jesus, to proclaim the good news. I am getting better, gaining a little in self-confidence, but it is still very much something I need to work on. But this is what we are called to do as Christians. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it’s out there, outside of the church where we enter the mission field, where we need to be ready to share our stories, whenever the Lord gives us the opportunity.

However, opposition makes Christianity thrive. In the early church, the more Christians martyred, the stronger Christianity became. ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church’ (Tertullian 2nd century AD). The early Christians were given power, powerful power, by the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit working in and through us today. As Jesus foretells, Christianity will cause familial division (has done and still does). And although

persecuted, ridiculed, Christians are assured of rewards in heaven, that not a hair on our heads will be lost. Now this does not mean an end to earthly suffering, we just need to consider how many souls are remembered in the Martyrology for example, but it does mean life eternal for those who hold fast to God and do not deny Jesus Christ, if we keep our eyes on Jesus as an Ordinand in my college group often says.

But Jesus advises that our hardships are not stumbling blocks. They are stepping stones. The crises are not a defeat but a platform. Our weaknesses, our despairs are a conduit for God’s greatest moments of strength. St Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that God’s grace is sufficient for us; His powers are made perfect in our weakness. The Holy Spirit is with us and so we don’t need to rehearse clever arguments but if we cultivate a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, He will be our guide, will never leave us, because nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

At the end of our gospel, Jesus tells us ‘By your endurance you will gain your lives.’ Endurance is not just surviving the storms of life; it is using these storms to give weight to our testimony. Everything man made will eventually perish – our buildings, possessions. The world can take it all away, even our very breath. But our testimony, our witness will remain.

So, let’s not cling to the temporary temples of our world – they will fall.

Let’s remember that the chaos we experience and see all around us – these are like the birth pains preparing the way for Christ’s return.

And let’s use the trials and personal tribulations we experience as God given platforms to bear witness to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Spirit goes ahead of us when we witness, preparing the way, giving us the word and granting us courage. Our faith grows by expression – we must share it – we must witness. (Billy Graham)