33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (November 16, 2025)

The Rock of Gibraltar at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea is impressive and imposing, a monolithic limestone promontory at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula. For many years, an American financial company exploited it as a symbol of their stability by utilizing the image of that iconic European landmark with their motto: “The Strength of Gibraltar.” That rock comes to mind as I reflect on the readings for today.

There are parallel timelines in today’s Gospel. First, there’s the timeline of Luke’s narrative. Jesus has entered Jerusalem for the fulfillment of his mission through his Passion death and resurrection. During a confrontational encounter with the religious leaders at the temple, Jesus’ followers make comments about the temple’s finery. Jesus uses that as a springboard to speak of the end times and the calamities to come. None of that finery will last.

But for Luke’s community who heard his Gospel for the first time, Jerusalem’s temple of finery has been destroyed by the Romans, who are also persecuting Christians to death. This is the second timeline of today’s Gospel story. In his teaching, Jesus addresses the people of both situations. 

When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified. . . Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons. . . You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.

It all sounds so ominous, and Luke is reiterating some thoughts he wrote earlier in chapter 12 concerning “a father divided against his son, and a mother against her daughter.” Jesus urges his followers to persevere. Indeed, he promises to be with them in time of trial:

I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

Next Sunday’s celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King stands at the center between the outgoing and incoming liturgical years, a perfect metaphor for today. Jesus stands at the center of our storms. More powerfully than Gibraltar, Jesus is our rock! With our lives and our hearts focused on Jesus, we need not fear calamities past, present, or future.