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the shift
“Some were speaking of how the Temple was adorned…” —Luke 21:5
People were focusing on the majesty of the Temple building, “adorned with precious stones and votive offerings” (Lk 21:5). However, Jesus shifted the conversation to the meaning of the Temple and its future (Lk 21:6ff).
People will soon be focusing on the beautiful Christmas decorations which will be adorning our church buildings. Jesus will be trying to shift the conversation to its meaning: “Which is more important: the adornments or the Church which makes the adornments sacred?” (see Mt 23:17)
People are focusing on the signs of the end times — possible “wars and rumors of wars” (Mt 24:6), even nuclear wars, climate change, and the resulting natural disasters which threaten Planet Earth with doom (see e.g. Mt 24:7; Lk 21:25). Yet the Church, inspired by Jesus, shifts the conversation to repentance (2 Cor 6:2), staying awake (Mt 24:42; Lk 21:34ff), and His Second Coming (Mt 24:29ff).
It’s tempting to focus on the sensational or on what may happen. Jesus focuses on the present moment. Make the shift. Fix your eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2).
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to allow everything in my life to shift my thoughts to Jesus.
Promise: “He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with His constancy.” —Ps 96:13
Praise: In the nineteenth century, the Emperor forced all Vietnamese Christians to deny their faith in Jesus by trampling on a crucifix. Those of the faithful who refused were martyred. One-hundred and seventeen Vietnamese martyrs from this period were canonized as saints, including St. Andrew Dung-Lac, a priest.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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