The Eternal Temple and The Eternal Worship"

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s first reading from the Book of Daniel is one of the most controversial passages of the Old Testament. Many scholars who date the Book of Daniel to the second century see Daniel’s visions as related to the Babylonians, Medes, Persians, and the Greeks. Other scholars who date the Book of Daniel view the visions as related to the Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greeks, and Romans. Furthermore, most early Christian traditions interpret Daniel’s visions on multiple levels, not simply dealing with historical events, or prophetic events that would come to pass, but also at a mystical level relating to God’s relationship with His people. In today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus makes a clear reference to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. This is related, in some traditions of interpretation, to Daniel’s vision in the first reading. In the vision from Daniel, God will establish a kingdom that will last forever. This is clearly related to the Davidic kingdom, which elsewhere in the Old Testament God says will be an everlasting kingdom. The problem is that during the events in which Daniel takes place, the Babylonian exile, the Davidic kingdom appeared to be lost. A few scholars, following some early Jewish traditions, have argued that Daniel himself was part of the Davidic kingdom and this is why much of his text seems to relate to that kingdom. Jesus is the true Davidic king. With the genealogies in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke tracing Jesus back to King David, we see how His status as Davidic king, as the messiah, provides an important context for all of Jesus’ life. In today’s passage from Luke, we find this discussion about the destruction of the Temple, built initially by David’s son Solomon. At one and the same time this should be a disturbing and even frightening comment, but also a consoling one giving God’s people hope. It should be disturbing because it foretells God allowing the most important religious site in the world to be destroyed yet again. And yet, it should be consoling because in many ways, Jesus Himself is the new temple, the true heavenly Temple.

We participate in the Temple worship, not by praying by the ruins of the Jerusalem Temple, not by sacrificing animals in a temple, but by participating in the Church’s Sacraments where we encounter Jesus most perfectly while on earth. The Temple on earth was destroyed, both the Jerusalem Temple and the Temple of Jesus’ body. But, Jesus has restored the Temple of His body through His resurrection. Let us joyfully participate in this heavenly worship at each and every Mass.