The Temple, The City, Destruction, and Perseverance
Both last weekend and this one, the Gospel passages have used the Temple in Jerusalem as a physical sign of something spiritual. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ destination is Jerusalem. The entire Gospel is written as His journey TOWARD Jerusalem. The temple is located in Jerusalem and is almost synonymous with it. Both last weekend and this, we learn that Jesus has arrived at His destination. The events that fulfill his mission we will not fully observe until the Triduum, which peaks with Easter, but our church year is coming to an end as we look to a new year in Advent, two weeks from now.
Jerusalem is a symbol for many things in Scripture, including:
The Dwelling Place of God – particularly Mount Moriah, where the Temple was built. For the ancient Jews, it was a chosen place where God’s presence and name would dwell among His people, Israel.
The Covenant – The city symbolizes the heart of God’s Covenant and his faithfulness, promising an everlasting kingdom through David’s lineage ruling from Jerusalem.
Judgement and Restoration – The prophets often use the city and the Temple, speaking of its destruction as the consequence of unfaithfulness to God, but also foretelling restoration and glory in the long run.
The Center of Redemption – In the New Testament, Jerusalem is the setting for the pivotal events of Jesus’ ultimate mission – suffering, death, and Resurrection (The Paschal Mystery) as well as the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles at Pentecost, enflaming the global spread of the Gospel.
The Heavenly Jerusalem and the Church – For Christians, Jerusalem is used as an allegory for heaven, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive act, and heaven is often referred to as the “New and eternal Jerusalem”, thus connecting our Judeo-Christian story.
Our Jewish friends, in fact, have many temples and synagogues, but the one in Jerusalem symbolizes their universal unity in much the same way as St. John Lateran symbolizes our unity as worldwide Christians.
The physical challenge in this week’s passage of not one stone of the temple left on another graphically suggests the total destruction of something that houses the sacred. In fact, the temple that King Solomon built in the 10th century BC was destroyed by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. The second Temple was completed in 515 BC and destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Luke’s Gospel was written shortly after approximately 79 AD, with that destruction fresh in mind.
We have at least two major lessons from these readings this weekend. When destruction, even total destruction, happens, don’t panic. Don’t succumb to the interpretation of this destruction from those who may have a personal or fleeting interpretation of it. We need true wisdom for that task.
The ultimate challenge to persevere amidst things that have been destroyed in our lives should be our major takeaway from this passage.
These readings help us to see a city, a temple, as an analogy for Christ, who was destroyed physically but not spiritually, and who lives in eternity. The total destruction of earthly things, buildings, relationships, careers, and even life as we know it calls for hanging in there and staying with the hope and promise that only comes through Jesus Christ.
Shenanigans
As part of Holy Family Shenanigans,
join us on Sunday, November 23 at 12:00pm
for a Bears vs. Steelers
Watch Party
and Chili Cook-Off.
Bring your best chili recipe and tailgate set up
to the parish Courtyard and then come on inside
to cheer on the Bears as they play the Steelers.
There will be trophies for the best Chili and
the best Tailgate Set up!
Sign up in the Parish Office.