November 22, Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Tuesday of the 34th Week of Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Revelation 14:14-19; Gospel: Luke 21:5-11
"When will the destruction of the temple happen?" People ask Jesus after he tells them that "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 down." Moreover, they ask: "What sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
The words of Jesus must have caused fear in them, and they must also wonder when the destruction happens. The temple structure is massive. The stones are huge. They cannot be moved without heavy equipment. But Jesus declares, "There will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
Jesus warns the people. They should not be deceived by those who claim, "I am he (the Messiah)." The portents are wars and rebellions, earthquakes, famines, and plagues. In the sky, they will see many unusual things.
In other words, Jesus does not directly answer the question. At this point, we must rest content and take hold of our faith. We follow Christ, not his pretenders. Many will lead us astray if we are not discerning. We have to know our faith better so that we do not fall away from the community that is supposed to support us.
In our times, many appear to bring a message. They claim they know precisely the signs and the time when the destruction is coming. They interpret both natural and man-made calamities as signs of the end, and they believe that we can be saved only when we join their group.
Let us not allow any "false prophet" to mislead us. Instead, let us remain firm in our faith in Jesus, for He alone is "the way, the truth, and the life."
How do you do your discernment?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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