So, have you ever had anything explode in your microwave?
Well, one time I was starving, so to speak,
And I threw a frozen burrito into my microwave,
And I hit a few buttons, and then I walked away.

And I came back minutes later
To what looked like a crime scene inside my microwave.
The burrito erupted like a volcano,
And there were beans on the wall
And cheese on the top of the machine.
It looked like a disaster.

So, the burrito looked so calm and peaceful going in,
But inside the pressure was building,
And it couldn’t handle the heat, I suppose.

So, why am I talking about my burrito experience?
Well, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is warning His disciples
That pressure is coming.

That’s what He’s telling them.
The pressure is going to be coming.
And things might look peaceful now.
The Temple may look strong, impressive, and immovable,
But it’s not going to last forever.

Chaos, He tells them, is coming.
Not just in the world, but even closer to home.
Friends will betray each other.
Families will be divided.
People will hate you because of your faith.

And that’s the microwave moment.
But Jesus doesn’t tell us to panic.
He tells us this to help prepare us.
He’s saying, “Don’t be surprised when life gets messy.
Don’t lose heart when the heat is on.
By your perseverance, you will preserve your lives.”

He’s calling us not to explode, if you will,
Under pressure, but to endure through it.

You see, God isn’t interested in keeping
Our lives looking clean and perfect on the outside.
What He’s doing is working with us on the inside,
Building strength and patience and courage
And deep faith that lasts when things get rough.

So next time you feel like your life is starting to heat up,
When people don’t understand you or your beliefs,
Or whenever you feel some kind of pressure
Is building around you,
Remember, you’re not in the microwave,
So to speak, alone.
Jesus is right there with you.

That trust and perseverance
Is the key to standing firm in Christ.

We all go through those moments
When the temples, if you will, of our lives—our health,
Our relationships, our plans—these temples start to crumble.
But Jesus is really clear: “Don’t be afraid.
I am still here. Stay with Me. Keep going.”

Friends, that’s the Good News in today’s Gospel.
When our lives—when the world—shakes around us,
Stand firm with Christ,
Because He will walk with us and stand firm with us.