St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 3b; What signs?.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The disciples question Christ) Part 2.  

They wanted to know the when and where the destruction was to take place, the disciples.  Christ had told them that the Temple would be destroyed, that no stone would be left unturned one upon another.  They wanted to know when this was going to take place.  Their minds were full of questions and bewilderment.  

Now was not the time for them to know.  Now was not the time for all to be revealed to them the full knowledge of what was to happen.  There minds were not ready to accept the fullness of what was to happen.  There hearts were not filled with the spirit to be at peace with the knowledge of what was to happen.  And their faith and trust in God was not strong enough at this time for them to know that they would be secure in the protection of the Holy Spirit in what was to happen.  This is why they came to Christ asking:  "And what will be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" 

If you drive around today you are liable to see corner preachers with signs proclaiming the end of the world is near.  In many large cities this may be the case to get people to turn from their ways back to church and back to God.  Telling people that the end is near may be true for some for who knows when their time may come.  Anyone could die today or tomorrow.  Anyone could leave their house walk out to the street and get hit by a car, a falling airplane, or even a meteor.  One never knows.  We all take our life as though we will live for a long time, at least until the end of our life expectancy.  We do not prepare as though that day may be the next minute or the next hour.

God is merciful and loving, kind and patient.  He gives each of us the opportunity to come to know him, time to cleans ourselves, time to repent of our sins.  But when that time comes it is final.  Thank you Father for the many opportunities that you have given me to come to know you.  Thank you for giving me the chance to repent of my sins and ask for forgiveness.  Thank you Father for holding my hand and walking with me to let me know the love that you have for me this day and every day.  I pray that I may be able to share that love with others that they too may also come to know you.  In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 3a; Tell us.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The disciples question Christ) Part 1.  

And so it was that Christ foretold of the Temple destruction.  The disciples were awestruck.  They did not know what to say or what to expect.  They believed that their city and their Temple would exist forever.  Little did they know or believe that it would be destroyed and that message would come from the mouth of the Messiah.  It must have been an mad idea, a thought of disbelief, something of unbelievable incomprehension.

Yet here was the Christ, the Son of God, telling them of what would happen in the future, something they had to accept as truth.  Their minds were buzzing with all kinds of questions, all kinds of doubts, all kinds of curiosities that required answers.  So, "And as he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when are these things to happen."

They could not wait.  They had to know.  They wanted to know.  They were curious.  Their minds were full of thoughts of how this would happen and by what means.  Would a flood come?  Would there be fire?  Would an invader come and destroy the Temple, or would the Romans tear it down and destroy the people as the Pharisees feared?  How would this happen? Would it happen today or tomorrow?  Would it happen next week?  Should they make preparations to leave the city?  Should they tell their friends and relatives?  So many questions ran through their minds that they had to have answers to what Christ had just told them about the Temple and the city.

What would you do if you knew?  Would you run and go to another place?  Would you tell your brothers and sisters, mother and father, uncle, aunts, other relatives?  Would they believe you?  Would they leave with you or just laugh you off as crazy?  This man that you have been following, this man that you believe is the Messiah has told you that the city will be destroyed and you believe him.  What do you think others will say about you?  

You have had an epiphany awakening and believe that the spirit has come to you to open your eyes about the world you live in and who you are.  The spirit has enlightened you with the knowledge of your purpose and has given you the means to accomplish it.  You want to help others to come out of the darkness into the light.  So you tell them of your experience.  Would they believe you?  Would they seek to know the truth the same as you or would they think that you are crazy?  Would you tell your brothers, sisters, mother, father, uncles, aunts, other relatives?  Who would you confide in that would understand?  

I can only do what has been given me to do and hope others will see.  Love is the key to change.  I love my mother and father, sister and brothers, uncles and aunts, but I cannot force them to do what I do.  I can only love them for who they are and pray for them, asking God for forgiveness and mercy.  Thank you Father for your love.  Thank you Christ for your passion.  Thank you Holy Spirit for you enlightenment.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 2; Temple destruction.

Our paragraph topic is: (Christ foretells the Temple's destruction) Part 2.  
Many came to the city to marvel at the construction and beauty.  They came from near and far because they had heard of Jerusalem's beauty.  They wanted to see it.  They wanted to know it.  They wanted to hear of the history and the culture that caused such a city to be built.  So they came from all nations and tribes, from north and south, east and west to see this great city.  They wanted to learn so they could take that knowledge back to their own cultures.

And the Jews were proud of this fact that the people from all over the known world were coming to Jerusalem to see the majesty of their great city.  The disciples wanted Christ to see all there was of this great city.  They wanted to show him around to all the different parts.  But Christ did not see greatness.  All he saw was destruction.  All he saw was ruin.  "But he answered and said to them, 'Do you see all these things?  Amen I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.' "

And so it was that destruction was in his sight and not the beauty that was in the eyes of the disciples.  They were proud.  He was sadden.  They were joyful.  He was heart broken.  They could only see the here and now.  He saw the future and the destruction that was taking place even as they spoke because it was happening before their eyes and they could not see.  

What we see and what we do not see is what we are given to see or not see.  We are given to see the things around us because they are there every day.  We look for them and they are there.  We are not given to see those things that are not there.  They may be there but we are not given to see them.  That doesn't mean that they are not there it's just that we are not given to see them because we don't ordinarily look for them.  They could be right in front of our face and we do not see them because we are not looking for them.  

Christ sees all and knows all, past , present, and future.  He sees us in our daily lives and our daily struggles.  We are his body and together he provides for all, protects all.  We know not where we are going.  We only know that day by day we will eventually get there.  He will carry us through if we call upon his name to see us through.  We are not given to see the outcome of these things but our belief tells us that we can see that he is with us.  We ask him for help with our problems and though they may not get solved according to our time frame, they do get solved if we leave them in his hands.  

Thank you God for that which we cannot see that we know that is there for us.  Thank you Christ for being there for us to help us along the way.  Thank you Holy Spirit for being our guide every day when we need someone to lean on to help us along the way.   

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.