Today's gospel lesson is a selected reading from Luke's rendering of Jesus' temple teachings. Luke's version of this eschatological discourse, which is most fully found in Mark 13, gives Jesus' message a uniquely Lukan spin. While neither gospel writer sugar-coats the catastrophic events that will befall both the chosen people of God (the destruction of the Jewish temple) and Jesus' loyal followers (the public and personal persecutions of Christians), Luke highlights these catastrophes as opportunities. For individuals this is a chance to let faith shine and witness to the rest of the world. These dramatic developments also serve a second purpose: to display divine sovereignty, intentionality, power and presence in the unfurling future.

The first "lesson" Jesus presents his disciple-listen…