That is an interesting take on that scripture. I come at it from a different angle.
To me "This generation" is the generation he is speaking about, not to. The generation that will be there when those events happen.
To think He meant the generation He was speaking to wouldn't make any sense. The chapter is about what will happen in the end of days. Immediately before the "this generation" He described that time and then immediately after He described that time. The events He described haven't happened so it could not be the generation standing in front of Him then.
So....that's how I read it.
"A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this."
That could be this generation.
Speculation aside, I’m just wondering if any of you can point out a passage where Jesus uses the phrase “this generation” in reference to any group of people other than His contemporary generation of Jews?
Yep. That is exactly how i read it. so i was forced to come up with a "reasonable" explanation, thus my diatribe above.