Luke 21:5-11

Daniel 2:31-45

Daniel 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61

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 that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him,

“Teacher, when will this happen?

And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” 

He answered,

“See that you not be deceived,

for many will come in my name, saying,

‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ 

Do not follow them! 

When you hear of wars and insurrections,

do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,

but it will not immediately be the end.” 

Then he said to them,

“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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, do not let me be deceived by the evil one. Teach me to read the signs of the times and be always prepared to meet you. I long for your embrace that will welcome me into your heavenly dwelling.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Signs of Tribulation: In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus foretold the demise of the Temple. Naturally, the people who heard this prophecy asked Jesus when it would happen and what signs would precede the destruction of the Temple. Jesus first speaks about the signs and later, in Luke 21:32, gives them a time frame (within a generation or 40 years). The signs of the time of tribulation will include false messiahs, wars, insurrections, international strife, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and celestial signs in the sky. Jesus urges his disciples not to be deceived by the false prophets and messiahs and not to be terrified during the tribulation. The signs Jesus predicted all came to pass before A.D. 70. There was a famine in A.D. 45-49 during the reign of Claudius, there were messianic pretenders, the Jewish revolt (insurrection) against Rome began in A.D. 66, and there was turmoil in the Empire after the death of Nero in A.D. 68. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught his followers to pray especially for mercy during the time of tribulation: “Lead us not into temptation,” “Do not subject us to the test.”

2. The Kingdoms of Gold and Silver: In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of nations and kingdoms rising against one another in the years leading up to the fall of Jerusalem. There is a similar theme in the First Reading. Daniel was an exile in Babylon and was called in by King Nebuchadnezzar to reveal both the king’s vision and its meaning. The King saw a great statue made of four metals. The head was pure gold, the chest and arms were silver, the belly and thighs were made of bronze, and the legs were made of iron, with the feet being a mixture of iron and clay tile. When Daniel interprets the dream, he tells the king of Babylon that he is the head of gold. But his kingdom will come to an end and be replaced by an inferior kingdom, the kingdom of silver. This will be the Medo-Persian empire, which conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. Persia, led by Cyrus the Great, defeated the Babylonian army at the Battle of Opis and took the city of Babylon peacefully.

3. The Kingdoms of Bronze and Iron: Daniel interprets the bronze in the statue as a third kingdom, “which shall rule over the whole earth.” This is a reference to the Greek empire, led by Alexander the Great, who conquered the world at breakneck speed. His empire stretched from Greek to northwestern India, covering about 2 million square miles. It was the largest of the ancient world. Alexander began his conquest of the Persian Empire in 334 B.C. and ruled until his death in 323 B.C. at the age of thirty. The fourth kingdom is “strong as iron,” and will subdue all the other kingdoms. But it will also be a divided kingdom, strong like iron, yet fragile like clay tile. This corresponds to the Roman Empire, which began its conquest of the Greeks in 214 B.C. with the First Macedonian War and completed its conquest in 146 B.C with the Battle of Corinth. The Roman Empire was strong due to its military might, but it was fragile because of internal divisions. During the time of the Roman Empire, Daniel prophesied that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people.” This Kingdom of God will stand forever. This is the Kingdom that Jesus inaugurated through his ministry, preaching, passion, death, and resurrection. The destruction of the city of Jerusalem and its Temple, prophesied by Jesus, signifies the end of the Old Covenant and the bringing about of its fulfillment in the New Covenant.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. I pray that when I stand before you, I am judged as good wheat and not darnel or chaff. You have sowed good seed in my heart, and I want it to flourish into a bountiful harvest of good works for your Kingdom.

Living the Word of God: Am I ready for the final judgment? Am I ready for judgment at the time of my death? What can I do today to be better prepared? Have I asked for forgiveness and mercy for my sins? Have I been thankful for the gifts God has given me? Do I attribute my good and meritorious works first to God and secondly to my collaboration with God’s grace?