Not One Stone

“As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” Luke 21:6

As we come to the end of the Liturgical Year, the Catholic daily readings are more and more about Jesus’ Second Coming. In this passage, people were admiring Herod’s Temple and remarking on the costly stones that adorned it. The historian Josephus wrote that Herod liked to perpetuate his name by his building projects. He constructed many buildings and temples to other gods but his crowning glory was the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple he built for the Jews was magnificent and many wealthy people donated gold, silver and gems to decorate it. Even the gates were masterpieces covered in gold, silver or Corinthian bronze that shone brightly in the morning sun. 

Since the offerings continued during the 1 1/2 year construction of the main Temple, 1000 priests were employed for construction for none but priests could enter the Holy of Holies. Construction of the massive edifice continued for 80 years. So when Jesus said that one day, not one stone would be left of the impressive structure, Jesus’ followers were naturally aghast. “When will this happen?” they asked. 40 years after, in 70 AD, the Temple would be destroyed by fire in the siege of Jerusalem led by Titus. Josephus wrote that a city of great magnificence was a desert, “For the war had laid all signs of beauty quite waste.”

The poignant lesson we can take from all this is that the mightiest man who builds monuments for himself will become dust. The grandest schemes and the most brilliant plans are temporary and fleeting. A dictator can rant and rave, and put people in prison, but he too will have to face God one day and account for all his actions. 

We too will have to face God and every deed done in darkness will be revealed. “For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” (Luke 8:17) “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecc. 12:14) Advent is a good time to recollect, to prepare for Jesus’ coming into our hearts.