From the Desk of Father John
November 16, 2025
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“By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (Luke 21:19) In this week’s Gospel, our Lord speaks of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the second coming. He compares the destruction of the temple with the end times.
He mentions, “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 downwarns.” (Luke 21:6) To the Jewish people at the time, this must have been quite a shock to say that the temple, which took 20 years to build and was the center of the Jewish nation, would be torn down and destroyed.
Following Jesus' response mentioning the destruction of the temple, His disciples asked Him when all this would take place. He tells them that there will be wars and insurrections and great earthquakes but that it will not immediately be the end. Also, He warns them not to follow false teachers or prophets who claim to be the Messiah and tells them of the coming persecution. Jesus mentions, “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.” (Luke 21:12)
While the foretelling of the end times is alarming, it ought to call us to greater faith rather than to shake our faith. In addition to teaching His disciples about the coming destruction, Jesus reminds them, “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.” (Luke 21:14-15) Jesus does not abandon His followers in their struggles or difficulties. He will be with us always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
The Gospel passage for this week began with Jesus’ response to people who were speaking about how beautiful the outside of the temple was because it was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings. In response, Jesus reminded them of the temporality and transient nature of the temple. Just like every other physical thing in the world, it will not last forever. In the case of the temple in Jerusalem, in only a few short years it would be destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans. This is a lesson for each of us, to not allow those transient and physical things to be the focus of our attention. Rather, may we focus on that which truly endures, that interior growth in faith, hope and love.
While speaking with a successful businessman, he once explained the faith to me in this way, “To believe and follow God is the best investment you can make. If you think of all other investments, they are only temporary.” Faith and trust in God is the only investment that gives true happiness and that truly lasts. Its return on investment is unmatched. Through seeking Christ and growing in our spiritual lives, we are storing up treasure for ourselves in heaven. We will be prepared for whatever may come and will be ready for whenever the Good Lord calls us home. In our prayer this week, may we not allow our hearts to be troubled but strive to increase in faith by increasing in supplication to the One who loves us and has prepared a place for us with Him forever in Heaven.