Hearing The Word

A weekly newsletter delivering context and insight into the Sunday Gospels.

November 16, 2025

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

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."

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The End of Days

~Rev. Paul Galetto, OSA

Pastor Saint Paul Parish + Philadelphia, Pa.

In order to better appreciate this pericope, we need to remember that the Gospel of Luke was most probably composed between the year 70 and 80 AD. Today’s passage is one of the reasons that scholars date the writing at this time.

The scripture as presented to us today has three distinct parts. The first refers to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. This was the second Temple constructed after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon and that was renovated by Herod the Great, a prodigious builder. The second part of this passage refers to the destruction of Jerusalem which was brought about by a Roman assault on the city after the rebellion of the Zealots in the late 60s. The Romans laid siege to the city and then after its capitulation, they destroyed it much like their ancestors had done to Carthage. These two events – the destruction of the Temple and the ruination of Jerusalem - occurred by the year 70 AD. The third part of this Gospel passage is about the coming of the Son of Man and is written in Apocalyptic language.

Luke may be taking teachings of Jesus that he proclaimed during his earthly ministry and for the sake of clarity, putting them here in his editing process. The heart of this message is that persecutions will accompany the beginning of the end times. There is a mention of some natural disasters which some construed as signs of things to come. As Luke is writing, Christians were already being singled out for death and torture; these horrific acts commenced under Nero and were continued by his successors (another reason to date this Gospel between 70 and 80 AD). It is implied that the end is no longer imminent (as was the case with the early writings of Paul). Luke wants his readers to know that during times of persecution, their faith in Jesus will save them.

Faithful to the End and After

~Matthew Gambino

Saint Theresa of Avila Parish + Norristown, Pa.

Today’s Gospel from Luke begins with the observation of people looking around the Temple in Jerusalem. They are “speaking about” the building’s “costly stones” and offerings; whether with pride or disdain we don’t know. Jesus points out that the Temple’s grandeur won’t matter in the end. It’s all going to be destroyed. There will be an end, and suffering to be endured before it. So, he teaches, look beyond the ends of things. Luke is writing to believers in the resurrected Jesus, to people who remembered his public ministry, his passion and death on a cross, and his rising to new life. They believed in Jesus’ promise of eternal life, in glory.

That is the glory of the holy ones we celebrated in a particular way at the beginning of this month, All Saints – those who endured all the sufferings and chaos Jesus foretells in this Gospel. Doing God’s will wasn’t easy then or now. To paraphrase a poet of our times, “It’s so hard to be a saint in the city.” This Gospel passage teaches us to look beyond the hardships of life, beyond the calamities of “wars, famines and plagues” preceded by suffering for the disciples of Jesus. Persevere through it all, he commands. Don’t follow anyone but him. Profess the truth of the Gospel no matter how difficult or dangerous.

All the sufferings of the present, punctuated by the joys and graces that keep us going, will be transformed into glory. Jesus shows the way to heaven, which our saintly heroes followed faithfully. God calls us to be saints, every one of us, despite our flaws and sins. He continually offers the grace of healing. He nourishes us with his Word and his own Body to walk through this life, our hand in his each day, into eternal glory with him forever.