The Siege of Jerusalem

 

As I have time to reflect on the abrogation of Summorum Pontificum, I have been lead to reflect on the 24th chapter of Matthew's Gospel as well as the history of the destruction of the 2nd temple of Jerusalem. Of course it can be erroneous to draw parallels, but in also reading the second chapter of St. Alphonsus' Uniformity With God's Will, he references the prophet Isaias when he writes, "We must therefore consider the afflictions that come upon us as happening by chance or solely from the malice of men; we should be convinced that what happens, happens by the will of God," I am reminded that there is nothing that happens that does not come from the hand of God. Many traditional Catholics are feeling this individual "destruction of the Temple" within our own Church and trying to make sense of it. So I think it helps to read the following in light of current situation, and vice versa.

A little background first:

In 70 AD, just before Passover, the Roman army laid waste to the temple at Jerusalem in response to the revolt of the Jews during the Roman Jewish wars.  

"Despite early successes in repelling the Roman sieges, the Zealots fought amongst themselves, and they lacked proper leadership, resulting in poor discipline, training, and preparation for the battles that were to follow. The Jewish defenders were split into factions."

The historian Josephus writes of the aftermath of the destruction: 

"This was the end which Jersusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind. And truly, the very view itself was a melancholy thing; for those places which were adorned with trees and pleasant gardens, were now become desolate country every way, and its trees were all cut down. Nor could any foreigner that had formerly seen Judaea and the most beautiful suburbs of the city, and now saw it as a desert, but lament and mourn sadly at so great a change. For the war had laid all signs of beauty quite waste."

1.1 million people (mostly Jews) were killed during the siege--more than the population of the city. Josephus attributes this to the vast number of those who came to celebrate the Passover at the Temple. The revolt had not deterred pilgrims from the Jewish diaspora communities from trekking to Jerusalem to visit the Temple at Passover, and a large number became trapped in the city and perished during the siege.

A few things stuck out to me, as my fellow TLMers (and those newly adopted fleeing from the COVID diaspora). To a lesser or greater degree, many have gone 'all in' on Tradition, and like the Jews at Passover, now find themselves trapped in the temple under siege. Their anxiety and lament comes from projecting to the possibility of a place "adorned with trees and pleasant gardens" which has now become a "desolate country, all the trees cut down." They recognize the "madness of innovations," in the new liturgy, and have found an oasis to worship God in a way fitting to Him. 

It's also telling that the Zealots before the siege "fought among themselves" lacking "training and preparation for the battles that were to follow." Does this strike a chord? 

As I move into what is written in Matthew 24, it foretells the destruction of the Temple. Listen to what our Lord warns: 

“And Jesus being come out of the temple, went away. And his disciples came to shew him the buildings of the temple.

And he answering, said to them: Do you see all these things? Amen I say to you there shall not be left here a stone upon a stone that shall not be destroyed.

And when he was sitting on mount Olivet, the disciples came to him privately, saying: Tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the world?

And Jesus answering, said to them: Take heed that no man seduce you:

For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ: and they will seduce many.

And you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be pestilences, and famines, and earthquakes in places:

Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

And then shall many be scandalized: and shall betray one another: and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many.

And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold.

But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved. (Mt 24:1-13)

Does this apply to us? I’ll let you apply it to your meditation.