Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck
Reflection on Luke 21
My Sisters and Brothers,
As we sit together today in prayer, let us acknowledge our Lord Jesus’ presence among us. And, before anything else, remember this: Jesus loves each of us more deeply than we can ever imagine. No matter where we are or what we face, He is always with us and never distant, never leaving us to face life’s storms alone.
Today’s Gospel is enough to make anyone uneasy. Jesus stands before the glorious temple in Jerusalem—the heart of faith, the symbol of God’s presence—and shocks everyone by saying, “All that you see here—every stone—will be thrown down.” The people are stunned. They want details: they want a timeline, a way to prepare, a set of steps to avoid catastrophe.
And Jesus tells them, honestly, you can’t avoid troubles of the world. There will be wars, disasters, betrayals. Even the things you most treasure and trust: family, friendships, even the beauty and security of your religious traditions—sometimes even these will fall away. But then, right in the middle of all these warnings, he says, “Do not be terrified… Not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
Our True Hope: God’s Faithfulness Endures When All Else Fails
Why does Jesus speak this way? Because he wants his followers to know where their real hope lies—not in the world’s security, but in the unshakable faithfulness of God. He wants us to see that what lasts isn’t what we can build or buy, but who we become when we trust him and let his Spirit lead us.
We’ve seen echoes of this in our own time. I think of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I’m sure many of you remember those images: churches with their pews floating, stained-glass windows shattered, entire neighborhoods washed away. If you put your hope in buildings, in jobs, even in your future plans—all those things can be swept away in a single storm. And yet, after the storm, Catholic churches across New Orleans and the whole Gulf Coast opened their doors. People who had lost everything showed up to serve food, comfort strangers, and share hope with their neighbors. You see, even when the stones fell, the Spirit remained. Faith, and the love that flowed from it, became the foundation.
That’s what Jesus invites us to. Not a life free from trouble, but a life rooted in hope that endures when everything else is shaken. This is how the Holy Spirit guides us day by day:
· By teaching us to let go of attachments to passing things, and to trust in what God provides.
· By giving us peace in the middle of fear: a peace the world cannot give.
· By helping us speak the truth and choose justice and compassion, even when we’re misunderstood or mocked.
· By moving us to serve and forgive, even when it costs us, showing the world that love is stronger than hate.
The Paschal Mystery: Finding Courage and New Life in God’s Transforming Love
And what gives us the courage to do this? It’s the mystery at the center of our faith—the Paschal Mystery. Jesus himself went through dying and rising. From the outside, the Cross looked like the final defeat of all hope, but that darkness became the dawn of new life. Through every loss and struggle in our lives, we are invited into this same mystery: to let go, to trust, to believe that God is doing something new.
This is the New Covenant of Love. Not laws chiseled on stone, but love poured into our hearts. The Holy Spirit gives us power to turn adversity into testimony, pain into compassion, loss into new life. Thomas Merton, the great Catholic writer, put it simply: “You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
Living the Gospel: Daily Steps of Perseverance, Prayer, and Love
So how do we live this out? By choosing every day to root our lives in prayer, in the Eucharist, and in small acts of trust. When you’re afraid—pray for the Spirit’s peace. When you see someone hurting—offer help. When your plans collapse—ask, “How can this become an act of faith?” Remember, by your perseverance, you will secure your lives.
Let’s not put too much stock in what can be lost or destroyed. Instead, let’s ask for the grace to live from the inside out; to be witnesses—not just by what we say, but by the hope and love we carry in the middle of this world’s storms. For when we walk with Christ through every loss and every resurrection, we are living signs of a love that never ends.
May the Holy Spirit help us to keep building our lives—not on passing things, but on the everlasting foundation of Jesus Christ and the boundless love of God. Amen.
About Our Guest Blogger
Saint Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.
I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.
My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.
