Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Luke 21: 5-19 Persevering with Hope
Today’s Gospel begins with a scene of admiration. Some people are speaking with pride about the beauty of the Temple—its fine stones, its gold, its grandeur. It was indeed one of the marvels of the ancient world. But Jesus looks beyond what dazzles the eyes. He says, “The days will come when not a stone will be left upon another.”
Those words must have shocked his listeners. The Temple was the heart of Israel’s faith, a symbol of God’s presence. How could it fall? Yet Jesus is not trying to frighten. He is teaching his followers to see what is truly lasting. The things we build—our structures, our achievements, even our successes—will one day pass away. Only faith, hope, and love endure.
The disciples ask, “When will this happen? What sign will there be?” Like them, we too are often curious about the future. We want to know what is coming, to feel secure. But Jesus refuses to give a timetable. He simply says, “Do not be deceived. Do not be terrified.” Wars, revolutions, earthquakes, and disasters will come, yes—but they are not the end. They are part of the long, painful birth of God’s kingdom.
Luke wrote these words some fifty years after Jesus’ death, when the Temple had indeed been destroyed, and Christians were suffering persecution. Many thought it was the end of the world. But Luke reminds them—and us—that these are not signs of God’s absence but of His mysterious work in history. God is not ending the world; He is transforming it.
Jesus then speaks directly to his disciples: “They will seize you, persecute you, hand you over because of my name.” Yet he adds, “It will lead to your giving testimony.” What seems like defeat becomes an opportunity to witness. God can turn even suffering into mission.
And then come those consoling words: “Do not prepare your defence beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom no one can resist.” The Lord promises not safety, but presence. He does not say, “You will not suffer.” He says, “Not a hair on your head will perish.” In other words, your true life—your soul, your dignity as children of God—cannot be destroyed.
Perseverance is the key: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” The Christian life is not about avoiding trials but remaining faithful in them. The world may crumble; faith remains firm.
Brothers and sisters, this Gospel invites us to fix our hearts not on what passes away, but on what lasts forever. When life seems uncertain, when evil seems to win, let us remember that God’s Kingdom is already being born, quietly, through the faith of those who persevere in love.
Let us walk forward, not in fear, but in hope—trusting that Christ, who conquered death, will bring to completion the work He has begun in us.Amen.
Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time Or Optional Memorial of Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Luke 18:1-8
Jesus tells us the parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow. At first glance, the widow’s situation seems hopeless. She has no money, no influence, and no power to demand justice. Yet she has one weapon: persistence. Day after day she pleads her case until even the corrupt judge, weary of her constant appeal, gives her what she asks.
But Jesus does not compare God to this judge; he contrasts them. If a selfish, unjust man can finally give in to persistence, how much more will God, who is a loving Father, hear the cries of his children? Prayer is not about wearing God down; it is about growing in trust and confidence that he knows and gives what is best for us.
Yet here is the challenge: God’s answers do not always come in the way or at the time we expect. Like children, we sometimes ask for things that would harm us, though we cannot see it. Only God sees the whole picture—past, present, and future—and so only he knows what is truly good for us. That is why prayer must always end with the words of Jesus: “Thy will be done.”
Persistence in prayer is not stubbornness; it is faith. It means trusting that God hears us, even in silence. It means refusing to give up, even when delays seem endless. Jesus ends with a haunting question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Our task is to keep the lamp of faith burning, to pray without ceasing, and to surrender all into God’s loving hands.
So let us pray with persistence, but also with humility, asking not only for what we want, but for what God knows we truly need. In this lies the heart of faith
Friday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time Luke 17:26-37 Do not look back!
Today’s Gospel passage is difficult, but from it we can gather certain truths that guide our Christian life.
First, there will be moments when we long for Christ’s return. Like the saints and martyrs in the Book of Revelation, we may cry out, “How long, O Lord?” Yet God’s time is not ours. We must learn to be patient and trust that his plan unfolds in ways beyond our understanding.
Second, the coming of Christ is certain, but the time is unknown. Speculation is useless, and false prophecies only distract us. The best preparation is to remain faithful to our daily duties. When Christ returns, blessed are those he finds working humbly, loving sincerely, and living honestly.
Third, God’s judgment will be personal. Jesus warns that of two people standing side by side, one may be taken and the other left. This reminds us that salvation cannot be inherited by proximity. We cannot rely on the holiness of our spouse, parents, or friends. Each of us must answer personally to God and nurture our own faith.
Finally, Jesus’ proverb—“Where the body is, there the vultures will gather”— Just as certain conditions draw vultures, so the return of Christ will come at the appointed moment. Our task is not to calculate when it will happen, but to be ready whenever it does.
This readiness means living without stubborn pride or clinging to the past. Like Lot’s wife, if we keep looking back, we risk losing sight of the future that God has prepared. Now is the time to change, to discern, to let go of mistakes and regrets. Life is dynamic—there is a time to sow and a time to reap, a time to struggle and a time to be at peace. What matters is to move forward with hope, fixing our eyes on Christ.
So let us not be paralysed by fear or nostalgia. Instead, let us keep walking faithfully, with forward vision, so that whenever the Lord comes, he may find us ready.
全属于祢 
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