11/25/2025 (Tuesday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 21:5-11
5 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said,
6 “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.”
7 Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”
8 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!
9 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.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”
11/25/2025 (Tuesday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Luke 21:5-11
In this Gospel passage, Jesus speaks of a time when the world will be shaken – buildings destroyed, nations in conflict, earthquakes, plagues, and signs in the skies. To His listeners, this message must have sounded terrifying. They admired the magnificence of the temple, the symbol of stability and divine presence, and suddenly Jesus tells them that even this earthly wonder would fall. It was a painful reminder that nothing in this world is permanent. Hardships, destruction, and trials are part of life’s reality. Yet woven into His words is a deeper message: even when the world trembles, God remains our hope, and after every storm, the sun will shine again.
Today, we understand this passage well. The world is filled with uncertainties—economic instability, wars in various nations, unexpected disasters, illness, and personal struggles. Sometimes life feels like a long night of thunder and rain. Just when we think we have found stability, something shakes our foundation: the loss of a loved one, betrayal in a relationship, the end of a job, a diagnosis we never expected, or a dream that falls apart. In those moments, we echo the disciples: “What will happen now?” But Jesus, instead of feeding fear, leads us to faith. He reminds us that though buildings crumble and seasons shift, God never leaves His children without light.
Think of a farmer whose crops have been destroyed by a storm. After the heavy rain, he does not abandon the field. He prepares the soil again, trusting that after destruction comes new growth. Or consider a family who loses everything in a fire. At first there is grief, shock, and pain, but slowly, brick by brick, they rebuild. They receive help, they start over, and eventually a new home stands. The storm did not have the last word. That belongs to hope.
Jesus is teaching us that storms do not mean God is absent. In fact, it is often in difficult seasons that His presence becomes even more real. When the wind is strong and the clouds are dark, we learn to cling to Him. When the world shakes, our trust shifts from material things to the One who can never be shaken. We realize that our security is not found in money, walls, technology, or prestige, but in God’s faithfulness.
Even in personal trials, we can see this truth.
A woman betrayed by someone she trusted cries and feels broken. For a time, the rain is heavy. But later she discovers strength she never knew she had. She grows wiser, more compassionate, and more deeply rooted in faith. The rain did not destroy her—it watered her soul.
A student who fails an exam may feel like the world has ended. But with perseverance, he studies harder, learns from the experience, and eventually passes. The failure becomes the door to maturity and resilience.
An employee who loses a job may feel shaken and anxious. Yet months later, she finds a new role that brings greater purpose and fulfillment. The closed door makes way for a better opening.
Jesus wants us to see that trials are not the end; they are transitions. The night leads to morning, winter leads to spring, and rain leads to sunshine. God uses painful seasons not to break us but to shape us. What looks like destruction may actually be preparation for something far greater.
So when life trembles, remember this:
The rain may fall, but it will not last forever.
The clouds may cover the sky, but the sun is still there.
The shaking may frighten us, but it also awakens us.
In God, there is always hope. His love never collapses. His promise never fades. Whatever storm we face, we can hold on to this truth: after every rain, God brings the sunshine—and with it, new life, new strength, and new beginnings.
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