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Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 13:

After days spent in the Temple teaching (11:11-12:44), Jesus leaves the Temple for good, and a disciple exclaims how “wonderful” the massive physical structure of the Temple area in Jerusalem is! (vs. 1) Jesus counters this sentiment, declaring that the Temple buildings will be destroyed, and they ask when this will happen, what the “signs” will be (vs. 2-4). Jesus replies in one of his longest continuous sermons in Mark’s Gospel (vs. 5-37). In this final speech, Jesus tells the disciples that typical signs of the end times will come, but they should not be “alarmed” or “anxious” because the Holy Spirit will be present (vs. 7, 11). Jesus will be truly seen in power and glory (vs. 26) and fruit of God’s covenant people (symbolized by the fig tree, Ch 11) in God’s plan of salvation will be at hand (vs. 28).  Remaining faithfully alert and watchful is what Jesus asks of his disciples (vs. 33, 37).

The Gospel According to St. Mark, Chapter 13:

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.” 3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign when these things are all to be accom­plished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For na­tion will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the sufferings.

Persecutions Foretold

9 “But take heed to your­selves; for they will deliver you up to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear tes­timony before them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious before­ hand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 13 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

The Desolating Sacrilege

14 “But when you see the des­olating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader un­derstand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; 15 let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything away; 16 and let him who is in the field not turn back to get a coat. 17 And alas for those who are with child and for those who are nursing in those days! 18 Pray that it may not hap­pen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God creat­ed until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not short­ened the days, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if any one says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and won­ders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But take heed; I have told you all things beforehand.

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch be­comes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Necessity for Watchfulness

32 “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and com­mands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Watch therefore— for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning—36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.”

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

"Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming..." (v35) Lord, am I ready if you were to come today? In what ways are you encouraging me to be ready?

Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. cbsmich.org/join

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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