Jesus warns His Men about the coming destruction of the Temple and future persecutions. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by seeking the Gift of Counsel from the Holy Spirit so he can reject false prophets and by building the Virtue of Fortitude so he can proclaim Christ’s Truth.
Commentary
During Holy Week, Jesus taught in the Temple every day. The Temple, in the 50th year of an 80-year enhancement project, symbolized Jewish pride and their desire to regain national sovereignty. It was built of massive stones, decorated with exquisite art and expensive materials imported from all over the Middle East, and was an example of remarkable craftsmanship. Looming over Jerusalem like a “snow-clad mountain,” all would have believed the massive Temple would stand for thousands of years.
Jesus’ pronouncement that the Temple would be utterly destroyed must have seemed impossible because of its massiveness and the Jewish belief that God would protect His Temple. Jesus warns His disciples not to believe those claiming to be Christ and not to fear the inevitable “wars and tumults” that will precede His Second Coming. Remarkably, Jesus’ prophecy of the utter destruction of the Temple came true less than 40 years later when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem to put down a Jewish rebellion; hundreds of thousands of Jews died.
In the coming turmoil, Jesus somberly warns His disciples of the vicious persecutions they will face at the hands of both religious and secular authorities. Jesus offers the frightening prophecy that the disciples will be physically tormented (“lay their hands on you”), put on trial for His name’s sake, and the troubling news that family and friends will betray the disciples. He directs the disciples to prepare for persecution and to rely on Him to provide them with the words their persecutors cannot “understand or contradict.” Wars will rage, earthquakes will rock the earth, there will be terrors, great signs in the skies, and people will starve and be ravaged with plagues. Throughout all these trials, Jesus exhorts the disciples to endure, promising that those who endure will see everlasting life.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Be awed by Jesus, the Divine Prophet, as He reveals future events to guide and protect His men: Divine Knowledge, Jesus has detailed knowledge about all future events that span time, including the acts of men, groups of men (kingdoms, wars, destruction of the Temple), human events (famines, pestilences) and geologic events (earthquakes); Divine King and Protector, Jesus Somberly Warns His current and future disciples to reject future false prophets and to reject being terrified, assuring them of His Divine Providence.
Be counseled by the Spirit to reject false prophets
Realize: Jesus does not give the timing of His return in the Second Coming and warns men not to believe false prophets who proclaim, “I am he.” Every Catholic man needs the Holy Spirit to provide counsel against false prophets.
Believe: Review the Creed’s section, He Will Come Again in Glory (CCC 668-677, 680-682).
Pray: Holy Spirit, give me the Gift of Counsel so You can guide me to recognize and reject false prophets and their insidious teaching and direct me to take any action Christ requires of me. Amen.
Build fortitude and proclaim Christ’s Truth
Realize: The persecutions Jesus foresees in the Gospel are upon us: speaking the plain, logical, and perennial truth of Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church is suppressed and attacked in the warped modern society by ridicule, shaming, harassment, intimidation, shunning, censorship, the loss of employment, lawsuits, and other devious means.
Believe: Reflect upon your responsibility to Bear Witness to the Truth (CCC 2471-2474).
Pray: Jesus, Perfection of Fortitude, help me build the Virtue of Fortitude so that I relentlessly persevere in proclaiming Your Truth to the world, courageously endure resistance and persecution, and cooperate with Your Will to bring many souls to Your Kingdom. Amen.