We can understand people’s shock on hearing Jesus speak about the total collapse of the heavens, popularly believed to be in control of this world. The context for Jesus’ words is also important, though. Today’s Gospel is part of a long list of comments He made after leaving the Jerusalem Temple with His disciples. His passion and death are nearing. The Temple was central to Judaism. It had been greatly extended and improved by King Herod the Great – at the cost of massive taxation of His subjects. Think of shock when Jesus says that not one stone of this will stand upon another – a prophecy fulfilled in AD 70, when the Romans destroyed it.
Gospel stories like this one may seem distant to us today, rooted as they are in terminology alien to our understanding of the universe in which we live. At all times, disciples are to be wary of giving allegiance to what may seem impressive now, but will not last. The list of these may include people, ideologies, wealth, technology…we can make the list almost endless. As we approach the end of this liturgical year, we are reminded that all of these are transitory. We are called always to have our hearts set on the kingdom of God. As Jesus reminds us, not even the Son of Man knows the day when He will return, but He does stress one essential thing: heaven and earth might – indeed, will – pass away, but His words will never pass away.