Have you ever gone to a movie or read a story that did not have an ending? Wondering how the story will turn out is what keeps us motivated to sit and watch the drama unfold. As a movie nears its end, the background music changes, the intensity of emotion shifts, and we hope that the story concludes in a “happily ever after” manner.
We wonder about the story we call “history.” Will it come to an end like every other story does? What will this end look like? Will the background “noise” and level of emotion begin to change? Will the world slip peacefully into the sunset or will it end with an eruption of violence?
As we enter our final week of the liturgical year, we listen to Jesus talk about what the end of history will look like (Luke 21:5-11).
“While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone…”
Just the way tourists view St. Peter’s basilica and admire its magnificence, so the people of Jesus’ day admired the beauty of the Jerusalem temple. There was a feeling that the temple would last forever. Imagine the shock effect when Jesus prophesied its destruction. It would be equivalent to someone saying that St. Peter’s Basilica will one day be leveled.
The logical question was: “When will this happen?” Jesus answered with:
“See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’”
As the end draws near, people will be caught up in fear and be eager to latch on to anyone who seems to have a solution to their confusion. False messiahs and false prophets will exploit this fear and make a profit by offering them “answers.” Jesus warned us not to fall victim to such “anti-Christs.”
“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first…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.”
Are we not seeing such things unfold in our day? Nations are beginning to rise against other nations, and there is much talk of war in the air—new ones are brewing. In recent years we have seen great earthquakes and floods take place, have gone through a pandemic, and many parts of the world suffer from famine. Contemporary Catholic prophets talk about a “warning” coming from the sky, just as Jesus predicted.
Are we beginning to experience the birth pangs that accompany the end of an age? Will we see the destruction of some of our church buildings the way the Jews saw the destruction of their temple? Will new wars between nations begin to erupt?
What we do know is that though the things of this earth come to an end, God’s Kingdom will continue forever. We have found the one true Messiah who will lead us safely home. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus every day.
