33rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle C

Readings For The Day

FIRST READING Malachi 3:19-20

Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.

RESPONSE Psalm Ps 98:5-9

R. (cf. 9) The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD. R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy. R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to rule the earth, he will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity. R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

SECOND READING 2 Thes 3:7-12

Brothers and sisters: You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Luke 21:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia. Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL Luke 21:5–19

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. "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."

Initial Thoughts & Impressions

The earthly temple as opposed to the true temple of our body. The precious stones of this temple are built by our responsive love of God & others. These adornments will endure for all eternity-

The difference of the perspective of the two laborers to build the Cathedral.

Compared to when Jesus (God) came to be presented in the Temple @ His birth. God’s presence complete in the Incarnation of His Son, Jesus.

Simeon predicted that “this child is set for the rise and fall of many is Israel.

As beautiful as the outside is the inside needs to be cleansed. Jesus cleanses the Temple. Jesus teaches in the Temple

Jesus foretells its destruction precisely because it will no longer be God’s dwelling place. Elimination & transformation from the Old Covenant into the New.

The presence of God leaves the Temple when Jesus gives up His Spirit & the Curtain into the Holy of Holies is torn in two from Top to Botttom. Illustrates this was God’s doing.

False Dwelling - False Prophets - Persecution

Child of God - Temple Of the Holy Spirit

The shear size and beauty of the Temple would have been quite something to behold.

Researched Material

The Navarre Bible: New Testament Announcement of the Destruction of the Temple (21:5–6)

The work was completed in AD 64; that is, just a few years before the Romans razed it to the ground. The process of rebuilding must have been quite far advanced when this episode occurred. Every Jew of the time must have been proud of the temple’s sheer scale, its harmonious ornamentation, and the richness of the materials used (see Flavius Josephus, De bello iudaica, 184–237; Antiquitates iudaicae, 15, 11). The disciples, too, were in awe of the temple; and Jesus’ prediction must have truly surprised them.

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