Look at how great this Temple is! “how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,” – Today, all that remains of that Temple is the retaining wall around the mount it was built upon – It can be seen at the Western Wall. Pictures do not do justice; if you are ever in Jerusalem, it is truly impressive. However, it is only a shadow of what it once was. Only part of the retaining wall of the mount the Temple was built upon - All evidence suggests that the Temple indeed was awe-inspiring, - It took at least 46 years to build; some estimates put the number as high as 80 years.
The pride in the Temple seems reasonable – look what has been made by the work of human hands. – Image what can be built and accomplished when we work at it? We just need to work harder. – Eventually, all will be perfect.
This is a great temptation – with our works we can solve problems. Yes, there were ancient wonders such as the Temple or others like the Great Pyramid of Giza, The Lighthouse of Alexandria, or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. – There are also marvels today, solving problems and making life easier. Football stadiums, skyscrapers, Easy travel by airplanes - the internet. It is easy to think of the possibilities. The limits of what can be achieved by the works of human hands seem endless.
This says nothing of political and cultural institutions? Is not each generation getting better? The structures of government getting better? It sometimes seems that all of our problems can be solved by human hands; you just need to get the proper systems, and the correct buildings. New laws and structures – just get the politics right, and everything will be perfect.
We can create a utopia, practically heaven here on earth – that seems to be the promise of technology and human efforts – It is an idol that we create salvation, the utopia, all by human hands – yet every promise has failed, look how well Karl Marx’s philosophy and communism have worked out. – And even our assumption of progress has been shown less than we thought – There is no guarantee that each generation will be better than the last – in fact, history, especially before Christianity, says there is no reason to expect it at all.
To those that listen to Christ – this should not be a surprise - To those who looked the greatness of the Temple, Jesus tells them that “All that you see here-- the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” – For no work of human hands can solve the problem. – The problem is that sin has entered the world - That takes a much greater temple than human hands can build. – indeed, this grand Temple of human hands was destroyed by the Romans in the Year 70 – less than a century after its construction began, a few short decades after its completion. The stones of the Temple are not enough; they are turned, no stone left upon another stone – something far more marvelous is needed.
Sin – it is in everything we do – Today, we have all of these works and achievements to try and solve the problem of sin – temples, court systems, separation of powers, limited powers, entertainment, economic prosperity - yet no political structure, building, technological achievement can defeat Sin – Though many have tried – in there attempted, it is indeed as Christ has said, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place;”
Politics, economics, and technology have not stopped the consequences of sins – diseases still exist, even with all our medical technology. Famines still happen, even with advanced agriculture, earthquakes still damage and destroy buildings, even with modern engineering. Wars still exist, even with modern communication. – Each war with someone claiming they are the one that will solve the problem – that this will be the last war – None of these conquer the effects of original sin.
Only one can solve the problem of sin – that is, one who is not just Human, but also divine – it is the Son of God – who has become man – Jesus Christ. – It is he who can reconcile us to God - In his death and resurrection, he has defeated death – he has defeated sin. He has created a new temple, raised in three days - his body, which is not made by human hands. Here there is forgiveness of sins, a solution that no other promise can provide.
We have all our technology – smartphones are never far away, and computers are everywhere. We do not need to get rid of them - but we do need to know their limits – we have politics, structures, and economics, – we need to have them – in the correct place; they can be beneficial - but let us not think they are our salvation – no utopia can come from them. We even need churches to celebrate Mass– but it is not the building of stone built by human hands that brings salvation and the forgiveness of sin– but Jesus Christ - who is present in the body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist.
It is here, in the Mass, where we received him, and draw close to him. And if we hold firm to Christ in faith – well – “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” – for if we hold fast to Christ – we find the forgiveness of sins and salvation – though we may die – we will rise with Christ – Only in Christ is our hope – not any work of human hands.