REFLECTION
FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR
If
we ask Jews, the most precious thing for them is their Temple. They built this
for fifty years. It was the most beautiful temple at that time and full of
adornments and regality. But when Christ predicts its destruction by saying:
“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 away.” After saying this they asked
Him: “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these
things are about to happen?” Because for them the temple is associated with the
presence of God the center of their lives and if this destroyed, the disciples
think this would mean, the end of the world. This prediction happened because
historically, after forty years, it was destroyed when Roman armies attacked
Jerusalem and completely destroyed in the year 70 A.D. For the Jews the
destruction of the temple was the equivalent of the end of the world.
Also
in our world today, there is a contest among nations in making the best nuclear
weapons. The purpose according to them is for defense, but in reality, it is
for killing innocent people. There is an increasing destruction of the
environment where virgin forests are murdered little by little. In our country
today we experience natural and man-made calamities like floods, killings,
kidnap for ransom, drug addiction and many more are rampant. Because of these
many people are afraid that the end of the world is approaching. There are also
some who predict that the end of the world or Parousia will happen at this
particular day and time. Let us not be misled by this kind of phenomenon and
those people because this happens not only once but many times. What we can do only is to always prepare
ourselves because we do not know when this will happen. Today’s gospel invites
us to reflect on the end of the world, not in an atmosphere of panic of fear
but in an atmosphere of Christian confidence by using our talents and resources
not for selfish purposes but for the purpose of building God’s kingdom on
earth.
