Things change. There are things that we think will be around forever; things that seem to be a foundation for our lives. There are symbols and institutions that we grew up with and that we identify with that we think will always be a part of our life. There are beautiful monuments that we have constructed that we hope will last forever. We expect things to change but certainly there are things that must not change. We hold on tightly to the things that have the greatest meaning to us and we make the assertion that this is one thing that they cannot take away from us.

In the gospel of Luke (Luke 21,5-19) we see Jesus and the apostles admiring one of those things that the apostles think will surely not change – the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple is the heart of the Jewish people. The Temple is a beautiful symbol and representation of God’s abiding presence with his people. The Temple is the one thing that will always stand at the center of the life of faith for God’s people. The Temple is the place where God is worshipped, prayers are offered, sins are washed away and forgiven, a pilgrim people find a home and the kingdom of heaven touches the earth. Certainly the Temple is something that will endure amid all of the changes of this passing world. Jesus responds to these exalted hopes with a simple, ominous statement, “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.” (Luke 21,6)

When the apostles heard this statement it could not have been easy for them to accept. I am sure that they immediately thought that this might happen but not in their lifetimes. The destruction of the Temple would certainly be a sign of the end of time and would occur sometime in the distant future. They immediately ask Jesus, “Teacher, when will this happen?” (v.7) They are looking for reassurance that they will not live to see such radical change in their own lifetime. Jesus does not give them an exact itinerary of the coming changes but he warns them to be ready for change. There will be many changes but “it will not immediately be the end.” They would be called to live through the changes in the external structures of their faith and they must persevere through these changes. Many of the apostles would indeed live to see the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.

Things change. Much of what is familiar and comfortable to us in our practice of the faith will change in our lifetimes. The external signs and symbols that we identify with our faith and our relationship with God may go through radical changes and even be destroyed. When these changes occur and we suffer the loss of those familiar edifices that spoke to us so strongly of our life of faith will our faith also suffer loss because of those changes? The visible elements of our faith, “all that you see here,” may change and even be destroyed, but will that change the invisible elements of our faith? Amidst all of the changing elements in the visible world there must be invisible elements that persevere and never change. That which must not change is the witness of our faith.

Jesus teaches his apostles that when all seems lost and it seems like the end they must see the changing times as an opportunity to bear witness to their faith. “Do not be terrified; for such things must happen first…” Change happens. In times of change it is a time for faithful witness. “It will lead to your giving testimony.” (v.13)

In our lifetime we have gone through tremendous changes in our Church and in how we experience our life of faith. Things that we thought would never change have changed and some have even been destroyed. In the face of such radical changes to what we have known and grown up with many people choose to leave the faith. For those who remain there is only one alternative, “Bear witness to your faith.”

Our faith is not only represented in the visible signs that we see around us. Our faith is in God’s love and providential care. Pope Francis in these trying and changing times has called us back to a personal witness of our faith. Pope Francis has spoken about “a poorer Church” where we hold on less to the things of this world and where we discover the true riches of faith in the love that we share with one another. Our faith does not reside in buildings, clothing, institutions and other constructions, it resides in our hearts through the Holy Spirit of God who dwells within us. Now is the time for witnesses. Now is the time to speak with a hidden wisdom that cannot be refuted – the wisdom of love. So buckle up and hold on because it is going to be a rough ride but “by your perseverance you will secure your lives.” (v.19)