When people were admiring the beauty of the temple, Jesus surprised them by saying, “All these stones will be thrown down.” His words were not only about the building but about something deeper. He was shaking them out of their comfort and reminding them that nothing in this world lasts forever. Jesus was not speaking about walls and stones alone, but about the changes that shake our hearts and lives. Temples are not only made of stone. They can be our lives, our families, our communities, our parishes, or our institutions. We all have temples. Some are given to us, others we build ourselves. Sometimes they are people, places, values, beliefs, or dreams that give us meaning, direction, and security. We depend on them, until one day they begin to fall apart.
When that happens, we feel lost. Change pushes us into the unknown. We start worrying about the future and asking, “What will happen now? What should I do?” But Jesus asks us to stay faithful in the present moment. After our temples fall, we may look for someone to blame. Some people give up and lose hope. Others become angry or think it is God’s punishment. Many try to fix things quickly or rebuild what used to be. But Jesus shows us another way. He says, “Do not be led astray. Do not be afraid. Stand firm.” Jesus invites us to be calm and stay steady, not to let fear control us. He asks us to trust that God is with us even when life feels uncertain.
If we cannot find God in the ruins, we will not find God anywhere. Jesus calls us to stay faithful and patient, to believe that God is present in the pain, the loss, and the changes of life. Even when everything seems broken, God is at work creating something new. Our endurance, our faith, and our patience are the gifts we can offer God. Slowly, God takes the fallen stones of our lives and rebuilds them. Stone by stone, God restores what was broken and brings beauty out of what seemed ruined. A new temple rises, shaped by God’s love and grace. In time, we realize that we no longer need to hold on to what was. We ourselves have become the temple of God. That is the story worth telling — the story of how God meets us in our ruins and begins to rebuild what we cannot.
I would like to conclude with this historical anecdote -During World War I, the beautiful Cathedral of Reims in France was bombed and left in ruins. For years, it stood as a broken reminder of what was lost. Yet, the people didn’t abandon it. Stone by stone, they rebuilt it — patiently, lovingly. Today, the cathedral shines again, more beautiful than before. God often does the same with our lives — from ruins to resurrection.
- Lilly Pushpam PBVM
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