WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.900 in a year. Today's reading is from the Gospel 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:12.060 of Matthew chapter 23, the Gospel of Mark chapter 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:16.440 13, and the Gospel of Luke chapter 21. Matthew 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:20.420 chapter 23. Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:23.079 and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:26.140 the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore, 00:00:26.260 --> 00:00:28.960 whatever they tell you to observe, that observe 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:32.090 and do. but do not do according to their works 00:00:32.090 --> 00:00:35.869 for they say and do not do for they bind heavy 00:00:35.869 --> 00:00:38.990 burdens hard to bear and lay them on men's shoulders 00:00:38.990 --> 00:00:42.289 but they themselves will not move them with one 00:00:42.289 --> 00:00:45.350 of their fingers but all their works they do 00:00:45.350 --> 00:00:48.310 to be seen by men they make their phylacteries 00:00:48.310 --> 00:00:51.229 broad and enlarge the borders of their garments 00:00:51.229 --> 00:00:54.090 they love the best places at feasts the best 00:00:54.090 --> 00:00:56.509 seats in the synagogues greetings in the market 00:00:56.509 --> 00:01:00.539 places and to be called by men rabbi rabbi but 00:01:00.539 --> 00:01:03.979 you do not be called rabbi for one is your teacher 00:01:03.979 --> 00:01:07.680 the christ and you are all brethren do not call 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:10.900 anyone on earth your father for one is your father 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:14.159 he who is in heaven and do not be called teachers 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:17.819 for one is your teacher the christ but he who 00:01:17.819 --> 00:01:21.280 is greatest among you shall be your servant and 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:24.280 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:27.640 who humbles himself will be exalted. But woe 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:30.239 to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:32.480 you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, 00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:35.659 for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:38.959 allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:41.599 you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:44.379 devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make 00:01:44.379 --> 00:01:47.219 long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:50.310 condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 00:01:50.329 --> 00:01:53.069 hypocrites, for you travel land and sea to win 00:01:53.069 --> 00:01:56.069 one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him 00:01:56.069 --> 00:01:59.750 twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe 00:01:59.750 --> 00:02:02.469 to you, blind guides, who say whoever swears 00:02:02.469 --> 00:02:05.430 by the temple, it is nothing, but whoever swears 00:02:05.430 --> 00:02:08.689 by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform 00:02:08.689 --> 00:02:12.189 it. Fools and blind, for which is greater, the 00:02:12.189 --> 00:02:14.650 gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 00:02:14.770 --> 00:02:17.270 And whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing. 00:02:17.530 --> 00:02:19.990 But whoever swears by the gift that is on it, 00:02:20.030 --> 00:02:23.490 he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind, 00:02:23.710 --> 00:02:26.949 for which is greater, the gift or the altar that 00:02:26.949 --> 00:02:30.270 sanctifies the gift? Therefore, he who swears 00:02:30.270 --> 00:02:33.530 by the altar swears by it and by all things on 00:02:33.530 --> 00:02:37.270 it. He who swears by the temple swears by it 00:02:37.270 --> 00:02:40.150 and by him who dwells in it. And he who swears 00:02:40.150 --> 00:02:43.090 by heaven swears by the throne of God and by 00:02:43.090 --> 00:02:47.360 him who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:50.439 hypocrites, for you pay tithe of mint and anise 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:53.099 and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters 00:02:53.099 --> 00:02:57.099 of the law, justice and mercy and faith. These 00:02:57.099 --> 00:02:59.539 you ought to have done without leaving the others 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:03.199 undone, blind guides who strain out a gnat and 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:06.860 swallow a camel. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:09.460 hypocrites, for you cleanse the outside of the 00:03:09.460 --> 00:03:12.539 cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion 00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:16.400 and self -indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:18.960 the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:22.319 of them may be clean also. Woe to you, scribes 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.060 and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are like whitewashed 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:28.400 tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:31.979 but inside are full of dead men's bones and all 00:03:31.979 --> 00:03:35.580 uncleanness. Even so, you also outwardly appear 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:38.139 righteous to men, but inside you are full of 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:41.180 hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:43.539 and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you build 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:45.819 the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments 00:03:45.819 --> 00:03:49.080 of the righteous, and say, If we had lived in 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:51.219 the days of our fathers, we would not have been 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:53.919 partakers with them in the blood of the martyrs. 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:56.360 Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:59.879 that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:02.960 Fill up, then, the measure of your father's guilt. 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:06.439 Serpents, brood of vipers, how can you escape 00:04:06.439 --> 00:04:09.300 the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:12.960 I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:15.939 of them you will kill and crucify, and some of 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:18.360 them you will scourge in your synagogues and 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:21.899 persecute from city to city, that on you may 00:04:21.899 --> 00:04:24.160 come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:26.980 from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:29.959 of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:32.379 between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:35.079 I say to you, all these things will come upon 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:39.000 this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:41.740 one who kills the prophets and stones those who 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:44.660 are sent to her, how often I wanted to gather 00:04:44.660 --> 00:04:47.160 your children together, as a hen gathers her 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:49.980 chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:53.939 See, your house is left to you desolate, for 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:56.860 I say to you, you shall see me no more till you 00:04:56.860 --> 00:04:59.819 say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the 00:04:59.819 --> 00:05:05.680 Lord. Mark chapter 13 Then as he went out of 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:07.680 the temple, one of his disciples said to him, 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:11.019 Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:13.600 are here. And Jesus answered and said to him, 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:16.459 Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:18.939 shall be left upon another that shall not be 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:22.439 thrown down. Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:26.000 opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:28.980 Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when will 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:31.860 these things be? And what will be the sign when 00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:34.579 all these things will be fulfilled? And Jesus 00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:38.040 answering them began to say, Take heed that no 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:40.680 one deceives you, for many will come in my name, 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.459 saying, I am he, and will deceive many. But when 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:47.399 you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:50.459 troubled, for such things must happen, but the 00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:53.120 end is not yet. For nation will rise against 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:56.199 nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there 00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:58.879 will be earthquakes. in various places, and there 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:01.620 will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:05.300 of sorrows. But watch out for yourselves, for 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:07.680 they will deliver you up to councils, and you 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.839 will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:12.000 brought before rulers and kings for my sake, 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:15.120 for a testimony to them. And the gospel must 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:18.360 first be preached to all the nations. But when 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:21.079 they arrest you and deliver you up, Do not worry 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:23.800 beforehand or premeditate what you will speak. 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:26.860 But whatever is given you in that hour, speak 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:30.019 that. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:32.459 Spirit. Now a brother will betray a brother to 00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:35.300 death, and a father his child. And children will 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:37.579 rise up against parents and cause them to be 00:06:37.579 --> 00:06:40.660 put to death. And you will be hated by all for 00:06:40.660 --> 00:06:43.439 my name's sake. But he who endures to the end 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:46.829 shall be saved. So when you see the abomination 00:06:46.829 --> 00:06:49.970 of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 00:06:50.209 --> 00:06:53.610 standing where it ought not, let the reader understand. 00:06:53.970 --> 00:06:57.589 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 00:06:57.810 --> 00:07:00.949 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into 00:07:00.949 --> 00:07:03.610 the house, nor enter to take anything out of 00:07:03.610 --> 00:07:06.810 his house. And let him who is in the field not 00:07:06.810 --> 00:07:09.550 go back to get his clothes. But woe to those 00:07:09.550 --> 00:07:11.990 who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing 00:07:11.990 --> 00:07:14.980 babies in those days. and pray that your flight 00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:18.459 may not be in winter. For in those days there 00:07:18.459 --> 00:07:21.779 will be tribulation, such as has not been since 00:07:21.779 --> 00:07:24.540 the beginning of the creation, which God created 00:07:24.540 --> 00:07:28.339 until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless 00:07:28.339 --> 00:07:31.100 the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:34.939 be saved. But for the elect's sake, whom he chose, 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:38.079 he shortened the days. Then if anyone says to 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:41.040 you, Look, here is the Christ, or look, he is 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:44.050 there. Do not believe it. For false Christs and 00:07:44.050 --> 00:07:46.730 false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders 00:07:46.730 --> 00:07:50.290 to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But 00:07:50.290 --> 00:07:53.670 take heed. See, I have told you all things beforehand. 00:07:54.069 --> 00:07:57.370 But in those days, after the tribulation, the 00:07:57.370 --> 00:07:59.470 sun will be darkened and the moon will not give 00:07:59.470 --> 00:08:01.910 its light. The stars of heaven will fall and 00:08:01.910 --> 00:08:04.829 the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then 00:08:04.829 --> 00:08:07.569 they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds 00:08:07.569 --> 00:08:11.000 with great power and glory. And then he will 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:13.420 send his angels and gather together his elect 00:08:13.420 --> 00:08:16.480 from the four winds, from the farthest part of 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:19.519 the earth to the farthest part of heaven. Now 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.379 learn this parable from the fig tree. When its 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:24.899 branch has already become tender and put forth 00:08:24.899 --> 00:08:28.180 leaves, you know that summer is near. So you 00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:31.060 also, when you see these things happening, know 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:34.379 that it is near at the doors. Assuredly, I say 00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:37.220 to you, this generation will by no means pass 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:40.559 away till all these things take place. Heaven 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:43.720 and earth will pass away, but my words will by 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:47.159 no means pass away. But of that day and hour 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:49.840 no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:53.360 nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:56.559 watch and pray, for you do not know when the 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:59.740 time is. It is like a man going to a far country, 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:02.519 who left his house and gave authority to his 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:05.360 servants, and to each his work, and commanded 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:08.360 the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:10.379 you do not know when the master of the house 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:13.460 is coming, in the evening, at midnight, at the 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:16.500 crowing of the rooster, or in the morning, lest 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:19.879 coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:26.799 I say to you, I say to all, watch. Luke chapter 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:29.899 21 And he looked up and saw the rich putting 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:32.840 their gifts into the treasury. and he saw also 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:35.700 a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So 00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:38.740 he said, Truly I say to you that this poor widow 00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:42.720 has put in more than all, for all these out of 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:45.019 their abundance have put in offerings for God, 00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:48.740 but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood 00:09:48.740 --> 00:09:52.120 that she had. Then as some spoke of the temple, 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:54.960 how it was adorned with beautiful stones and 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:58.360 donations, he said, These things which you see, 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:01.460 The days will come in which not one stone shall 00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:04.279 be left upon another that shall not be thrown 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:07.519 down. So they asked him, saying, Teacher, but 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:10.139 when will these things be? And what sign will 00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:12.159 there be when these things are about to take 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:15.340 place? And he said, Take heed that you not be 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:17.840 deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:21.539 I am he, and the time has drawn near. Therefore 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:24.840 do not go after them. But when you hear of wars 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:27.519 and commotions, do not be terrified, for these 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.360 things must come to pass first, but the end will 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:33.500 not come immediately. Then he said to them, Nation 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:35.940 will rise against nation and kingdom against 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:38.279 kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:41.740 in various places and famines and pestilences, 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:44.600 and there will be fearful sights and great signs 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:47.879 from heaven. But before all these things, they 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:50.220 will lay their hands on you and persecute you. 00:10:50.509 --> 00:10:52.909 delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. 00:10:53.149 --> 00:10:55.789 You will be brought before kings and rulers for 00:10:55.789 --> 00:10:58.690 my name's sake, but it will turn out for you 00:10:58.690 --> 00:11:02.149 as an occasion for testimony. Therefore, settle 00:11:02.149 --> 00:11:04.669 it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand 00:11:04.669 --> 00:11:07.529 on what you will answer, for I will give you 00:11:07.529 --> 00:11:10.350 a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries 00:11:10.350 --> 00:11:13.710 will not be able to contradict or resist. You 00:11:13.710 --> 00:11:16.289 will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, 00:11:16.529 --> 00:11:19.029 relatives and friends, and they will put some 00:11:19.029 --> 00:11:21.789 of you to death. And you will be hated by all 00:11:21.789 --> 00:11:24.789 for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head 00:11:24.789 --> 00:11:27.970 shall be lost. By your patience possess your 00:11:27.970 --> 00:11:30.730 souls. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded 00:11:30.730 --> 00:11:34.649 by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 00:11:34.870 --> 00:11:38.250 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 00:11:38.450 --> 00:11:40.950 Let those who are in the midst of her depart. 00:11:41.289 --> 00:11:44.129 And let not those who are in the country enter 00:11:44.129 --> 00:11:46.970 her. For these are the days of vengeance, that 00:11:46.970 --> 00:11:49.529 all things which are written may be fulfilled. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:52.600 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:55.240 who are nursing babies in those days, for there 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:57.759 will be great distress in the land and wrath 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:00.559 upon this people. And they will fall by the edge 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:03.019 of the sword and be led away captive into all 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:06.360 nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:09.259 until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:12.259 And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, 00:12:12.299 --> 00:12:15.299 and in the stars, and on the earth distress of 00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:18.799 nations, with perplexity the sea and the waves 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:22.590 roaring. men's hearts failing them from fear 00:12:22.590 --> 00:12:25.110 and the expectation of those things which are 00:12:25.110 --> 00:12:27.850 coming on the earth for the powers of the heavens 00:12:27.850 --> 00:12:30.690 will be shaken then they will see the son of 00:12:30.690 --> 00:12:33.690 man coming in a cloud with power and great glory 00:12:33.690 --> 00:12:36.789 now when these things begin to happen look up 00:12:36.789 --> 00:12:39.450 and lift up your heads because your redemption 00:12:39.450 --> 00:12:43.450 draws near then he spoke to them a parable look 00:12:43.450 --> 00:12:46.639 at the fig tree and all the trees When they are 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.039 already budding, you see and know for yourselves 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:52.679 that summer is now near. So you also, when you 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:55.000 see these things happening, know that the kingdom 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.259 of God is near. Assuredly I say to you, this 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:01.220 generation will by no means pass away till all 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:04.220 things take place. Heaven and earth will pass 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:07.659 away, but my words will by no means pass away. 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:10.820 But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts 00:13:10.820 --> 00:13:14.039 be weighed down with carousing. drunkenness and 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:17.539 cares of this life and that day come on you unexpectedly 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:20.899 for it will come as a snare on all those who 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:23.679 dwell on the face of the whole earth watch therefore 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:27.019 and pray always that you may be counted worthy 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:29.720 to escape all these things that will come to 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:33.019 pass and to stand before the son of man and in 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:35.440 the daytime he was teaching in the temple but 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:38.179 at night he went out and stayed on the mountain 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:41.700 called olivet then early in the morning All the 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:44.120 people came to him in the temple to hear him. 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:51.279 I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much as 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:53.399 I did and I look forward to seeing you again 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:55.860 tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:56.879 you and have a great day.