Saint Cecilia
Lk 21: 5-11
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Jesus Will Come Again
“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.”
Today’s reading sounds less like words from the Gospel and more like a segment on the evening news. Natural disasters, war, violence, and the seemingly endless pandemic can make it easy to despair. While Jesus’ early followers may have heard news of these catastrophes and believed that the end of days was imminent, in our time, we have grown so accustomed to such events that we often don’t give them more than a passing thought.
Our Scripture readings during this last week of Ordinary Time remind us that there will come a time when our earthly world will pass away and Jesus will return. Are we as ready for that as the early Christians were? How can we prepare our hearts for Jesus to come again, whenever that may be?
—Jesuit Prayer team
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we ask you now
to help us to remain with you always,
to be close to you with all the ardor of our hearts,
to take up joyfully the mission you entrust to us,
and that is to continue your presence
and spread the good news of your resurrection.
—Carlo Maria Martini, SJ