Breaking the Word

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he 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. "Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.  It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. (Lk 21:5-19)

It is a good reading about the last days. The reading could take us away from the main teachings of Jesus. We could easily be worried about what will happen when and so on. All these events of war, persecution and destruction took place between the resurrection and the destruction of the temple by the Roman army.

Temple was a sign of God’s presence among the people. It was the most beautiful building one could imagine. It was adorned and decorated by the skills and love of hundreds of years. It was a sign of national life and religious life of the people of Israel. The destruction of such a central image would be shocking experience for the people. But for Jesus and his followers it is sign of vindication of Jesus because the people have not listened to the teachings of Jesus.

The followers of Jesus are persecuted. They are hated by their own loved ones. They are led to prison and in front courts etc. In all these situations the followers are to be patient and not to be worried about what to say etc. They should not allow themselves to be cheated by others. Perseverance should be their hallmark. These values (virtues) will lead them to security. 

 Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Lk 18:1-8)

Jesus came into the world to usher in the kingdom of God. He went about preaching and doing the deeds of the kingdom. Besides this he also corrected the wrong image the people had of God. He picked up different aspects of God and through parables and stories corrected them and gave them the right image of God. Here, he corrected the image of God as a judge. People believed that God was a judge and would perform justice to all the people, particularly to the people of Israel.

The judge in the story has no respect for God and he doesn’t care whether he does the right thing for people or not. The main point of the story is: if even a rotten judge could be persuaded to the right thing by persuasion, the how much more God would do for his own people; God who is justice personified.

The story is about the Christians who are living a life of suffering, holiness and service. The enemies attack them and the Christians want God to act on their behalf. And God will surely act and show that they are truly his people. God will vindicate them. His people should wait in patience and in prayer (relationship with him).