Whoever has not seen the Temple has not contemplated the most beautiful

Mal. 3:19-20, 2 Thess. 3:7-12, Lk. 21:5-19. Being the Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, the Church invites us to radiate the joy and peace of one that is on the way to enjoying the fullness of Heaven. What is important is that our actions and speech should reflect our consciousness that we are drawing to the end time. In today's first reading, Malachi announces that the day is coming when all will receive their just “rewards.” The Psalmist project the coming of the Lord to rule the world with justice. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul cautions the Thessalonians that although it is true that the Lord Jesus is coming, that does not mean that the faithful should sit around and do nothing, rather they should do their fair share in the work that must be done before Jesus returns. Today's Gospel answers the false expectations and corrects the wrong interpretation of the apocalyptic language. Some people approached Jesus who was in the Temple and invited Him to admire its beauty: the huge, white limestone rocks perfectly squared by the workers of Herod, the decorations, the votive offerings, the golden vines hanging from the walls of the vestibule and extending more through the branches offered by the faithful, the facade covered with gold plates with a thickness of a coin.

The rabbis maintain: "Whoever has not seen the temple of Jerusalem has not contemplated the most beautiful among the marvels of the world." Thus, Jesus challenges us to stop chasing fairy tales and reflect on what should be of interest: to collaborate in the coming of the new world, the Kingdom of God. The false prophets have always presented a serious danger to the Christian communities. Luke records that Jesus is also bothered and warns His disciples against those who foretell that the world's end is near. He strongly recommends: “Do not follow them.” The end will not come soon; the gestation of the new world will be long and difficult. One of the recurring ideas during the time of Jesus was that the world had become too corrupt and would soon be replaced by a new reality begun by God. It was said that people would be caught by great fear in the time of passage from the old to the new. The peoples and nations would be upset; there would be violence, diseases, misfortunes, and wars. The sun would appear during the night and the moon during the day; the trees would shed blood, and the stones would break into pieces and launch screams.
Jesus uses it to say to the disciples that the transition between two eras of history is imminent. His is a proclamation of joy and hope. Anyone waiting for the Kingdom of God should know that the dawn of a new, wonderful day is about to appear. That was the reason that Jesus urged the disciples not to be afraid: “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads because your redemption is near” (Lk 21:28).

May the Lord guide us in our journey of faith through life and empower us to be faithful and committed witnesses to His truth and love at all times! Amen!! Good morning and happy Sunday!!!