St. Edward Basilica, Palm Beach – November 25, 2025

Give glory and eternal praise to him

Daniel 2:31-45, Daniel 3:57-61 (Psalm), Luke 21:5-11

In the first reading Daniel sees a vision of the destruction of four powerful kingdoms. In the Gospel, Jesus talks about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. Friends in Christ, as we come to the end of the liturgical year we meet some of the most symbol-laden literature in the Bible, (the Apocalyptic Literature), that speak about the end of the world. It is a biblical literary genre which tend to focus on the darker side of human experience. They speak of destruction, loss, conflict and deception. They remind us that we are mortals, we are finite, and that the end will come one day. It tells us that the end of history will open up a new beginning for mankind. With the imminence of Advent and the feast of our Savior’s birth, we are offered a new lease of life. Christ’s birth brought light to enlighten the dark phase of humanity.

Amidst all the confusions in this world, Jesus reminds us to “Take care not to be misled” especially by modernity and all its materialistic tendencies. Everything will surely come to an end. All human efforts to dominate others will come to a sorry end. All kingdoms and oppressive forces will come to an end. Where are the great kingdoms that successively oppressed and ruled other nations? Where are the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Medes, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Ottoman empire? No matter how colossal they were, and how seemingly invincible, these kingdoms had long collapsed. This reminds us that for all their power, prestige, material wealth and political clout, no empire will last forever.

In the Gospel, Jesus foretold the destruction of the wonderful Temple in Jerusalem, as well as other tragic events. Nobody could imagine the temple in Jerusalem being destroyed. This magnificent structure had taken nearly fifty years to build, and was world famous. But even the finest buildings only last so long. We are meant not to get too attached to structures that do not last. Instead, we are to rely on Jesus, who is greater than the Temple. When all else fails and disappears, he endures, and through our relationship with him we too will last. Only God and his Kingdom will endure forever.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that in the final analysis, there are just three things that will last: Faith, hope and love (1Cor 13:13). The Greatest is love… Every other thing in this world has an expiry date but love will never end. Let’s love now; let love lead; let’s share love especially as our National Thanksgiving Day draws near. By loving others as God loves us, we join the Psalmist to “Give glory and eternal praise to him.” Love makes the world go around…