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From: Luke 21:5-11

Discourse on the Destruction of Jerusalem and the End of the World

[5] And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble
stones and offerings, He (Jesus) said, [6] "As for these things which
you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone
upon another that will not be thrown down." [7] And they asked Him,
"Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is
about to take place?" [8] And He said, "Take heed that you are not
led astray; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He!' and,
'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. [9] And when you hear of
wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place,
but the end will not be at once."

[10] Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom; [11] there will be great earthquakes, and in various
places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great
signs from heaven."

Commentary:

5-36. The disciples are in awe of the magnificence of the temple, and
Jesus uses the occasion to give a long discourse, known as the
"eschatological discourse" because it has to do with the last days of
the world. The account given here is very similar to those in the
other Synoptic Gospels (cf. Mt 24:1-51; Mk 13:1-37). The discourse
deals with three inter-connected subjects--the destruction of Jerusalem
(which took place some forty years later), the end of the world, and
the second coming of Christ in glory and majesty. Jesus, who also
predicts here the persecution of the Church will experience, exhorts
His disciples to be patient, to pray and be watchful.

Our Lord speaks here in the style and language of prophecy, using
images taken from the Old Testament; also, in this discourse prophecies
which are going to be fulfilled very soon are mixed in with others
which have to do with the end of the world. It is not our Lord's
intention to satisfy people's curiosity about future events, but to
protect them from being discouraged and scandalized about what is going
to happen in the days immediately ahead. This explains why He exhorts
them: "Take heed that you are not led astray" (v. 8); "do not be
tempted" (v. 9); "watch at all times" (v. 34).

8. On hearing that Jerusalem is going to be destroyed, the disciples
ask what sign will be given as a warning of these events (vv. 5-7).
Jesus answers by telling them "not to be led astray," that is to say,
not to expect any warning; not to be misled by false prophets; to stay
faithful to Him. These false prophets will come along claiming to be
the Messiah ("I am He!"). Our Lord's reply in fact refers to two
events which in the Jewish mind were interrelated--the destruction of
the Holy City and the end of the world. This is why He goes on to
speak of both events and implies that there will be a long gap between
the two; the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem are a kind of
sign or symbol of the catastrophes which will mark the end of the
world.

9-11. Our Lord does not want His disciples to confuse just any
catastrophe--famine, earthquake, war--or even persecution with the
signals of the end of the world. He exhorts them quite clearly: "Do
not be tempted," because although all these has to happen, "the end
will not be at once;" in spite of the difficulties of all kinds the
Gospel will spread to the ends of the earth. Difficulties should not
paralyze the preaching of the faith.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. Clement I was the third successor of St. Peter as the head of the
universal Church. He reigned during the last decade of the first
century. He was martyred in 101 during the persecution of Trajan.
During his life he was known for his writing and preaching. One of his
most renowned works is his letter to the Corinthians urging unity and
charity. The Basilica of St. Clement in Rome, one of the earliest
parishes of the city, is traditionally held to be built on the site of is
home.

St. Columban was born around the year 543 in Ireland. After a
tormented youth, he lived a hermit's life for a time and later became
a monk at Bangor. After many years in the monastery, Columban
and twelve companions were sent to France as missionaries. These
missionaries won respect for their discipline, preaching, charity and
commitment to the religious life. St. Columban was deported after a
dispute with the French royalty, and he ended up in Italy where he
founded the monastery of Bobbio where he later died. During his
lifetime, he had very many writings and founded several
monasteries.

Bl. Miguel Pro was born in Guadeloupe, Mexico in the year 1891. At
the age of twenty, Miguel decided to apply to the Jesuits, and he
entered the novitiate in the year 1911. In 1910 a civil war had broken
out in Mexico, and by 1914, the fighting was so bad that the
seminary Miguel was at began to take precautions for its protection.
Many of the seminarians were sent to Belgium to complete their
training.

Miguel was ordained in 1925 and returned to Mexico a year later.
Twenty-three days after Miguel returned to his homeland, an order
was issued suppressing public worship and ordering the arrest of all
priests. Fr. Pro was arrested and escaped several times. To help his
ministry to the people, he used many disguises and tricks to evade
the authorities.

His last capture finally came. In 1927, Fr. Miguel was arrested and
sent before the firing squad for the crime of being a Catholic priest.
Moments before his stay of execution arrived, he was killed. His
dying words were "Long live Christ the King!" Miguel was meant to
be an example to other Catholics, and his martyrdom was well
documented with pictures and by the press. The coverage did serve
as an example, but not in the way it was planned. It served to
electrify the Catholics with love of God. Fr. Miguel was beatified
September 25, 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Charity unites us to God... There is nothing mean in charity, nothing
arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in
concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect. -Pope St.
Clement I

TODAY IN HISTORY

1970 Pope Paul VI issued a decree limiting the age of cardinals
eligible to vote for a new pope to 80 and younger.

TODAY'S TIDBIT

Some feast days are restricted to a specific area or have a special
importance for a certain area. Today's feast of Bl. Miguel is one of
those feasts, it is celebrated in the United States, but not world wide.

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Today we pray that we may have the courage of Bl. Miguel Pro to
stand up for our faith in times of adversity. We also pray for all those
throughout the world, who are unable to freely and openly practice
their Faith.