Luke 21:5-19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

Sharing Guidelines
*Sharing is not a time for teaching or debate; it is a time to sense the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit who leads the gathering.
*Reflection sharing is not meant to teach others but to share the meaning you personally have discovered. Therefore, do not criticize or debate another person’s sharing. Avoid boasting of your own understanding or knowledge.
*Respect the grace of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the meaning of the Word while dwelling among us, and listen attentively to others’ sharing, holding it in your heart.
*Keep confidential any personal reflections or stories shared in the group; practicing brotherly love means not passing along private matters outside the meeting.
*When speaking, always use the first person singular (“I”). Be careful not to distance or generalize your story by using the third person (“he,” “they”) or the first person plural (“we”).
*Keep it short.

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.” The Word of the Lord. ◎ Thanks be to God.

Today’s Reflection

A long time ago, King Herod ruled over Judea. He wanted the Jewish people to like him, so around 20 B.C. he started to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to make it bigger and more beautiful than the Temple that King Solomon had built.

The Temple area was so big that it covered an entire hill. Even after Herod died, the work continued until about A.D. 64. During Jesus’ time, the Temple was still being rebuilt.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said that one day this great Temple would be destroyed. And His words came true. In A.D. 70, the Roman army came and destroyed the Temple completely.

After that, life became harder for the Jewish people and for the followers of Jesus. The Romans began to persecute Christians. Jesus already knew this would happen, so He told His followers,
“By your perseverance you will gain your lives.”

This means that when we stay strong and keep our faith, even during hard times, we will find true life in God.

We Christians are always waiting for the time when Jesus will come again. No one knows when that day will be, so we must always stay awake and live good lives.

Some people misunderstand the end of the world. Some become afraid, and some wrongly say that they are the Messiah. But Jesus teaches us not to be afraid.

We must live patiently and faithfully every day. If we do that, the end will not be something scary. It will be a time when we meet Jesus and receive His salvation. (염철호 요한 신부)

Sharing

1. Let’s share a word or phrase that touched your heart.

2. Reflect on what efforts you are making to gain the wisdom to discern truth from falsehood.
Also, share how you view death — as something to fear, or as a meeting with Jesus and the gift of salvation. (Depth and perspective of faith)

3. Think about whether you can accept hardships in your faith with joy.
Share a time when your faith life was difficult — did that experience later become a source of joy, or does it still remain as pain? (Practice and attitude of faith)

4. Resolution: Based on today’s message, what kind of life do you want to live?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Today’s Reflection

Today, Jesus talks about the end of the world. His words may sound difficult, but the end is not only something scary — it is also about hope and salvation.

From the beginning of the world, God has been working to save all people. God made a promise of love with us from the very start, and He always keeps His promise. But people often fail to keep their promise with God. That is why God sent us a Savior, Jesus. Through Him, our salvation was completed.

When Jesus came into the world, He began the “last days.” One day, everything will be made perfect — all people will be united, and all life will be full of God’s love.

But this perfect world will not just appear suddenly. It is already here among us in part, but not yet complete. God does not use magic or power to finish His plan. Instead, He gives us signs in our time, so that we can understand His will and take part in His work through our own efforts.

At the center of God’s plan is the Church, the people of God. In God’s kingdom, all walls that divide people will fall, and there will be perfect peace and unity.

The kingdom of God does not come through fighting or winning against others. It comes through obedience and love, even when it means suffering — like Jesus who obeyed God even to death on the Cross.

To reach the fullness of life, we must pass through death. But death accepted in obedience and love becomes the greatest way to show God’s love for the world. (이정주 아우구스티노 신부)