Morning, friend, time again for moments of melody. Man couldn't make a flower bloom or scent it with a sweet perfume. Man couldn't make a big sunrise or put the stars up in the skies. Man couldn't make the sun to shine, or the fresh odor of the pine. But God did. Man can't put a song in your heart when things go wrong right from the start. Man can't give you peace within, or a lifelong pardon for your sin. Man can't build us a home up there where glory shines with beauty rare. Man can't take us to our rest when we've worked hard and done our best. But God can. so so And now the Gospel according to Dr. Luke, reading the translation of Monsignor Ronald Knox. There were some who spoke to the Lord Jesus of the Temple. of the noble masonry and the offerings which adorned it. To those he said, The days will come when, of all this fabric you contemplate, not one stone will be left on another. It will all be thrown down. They ask him, Master, when will this be? What sign will be given when it is soon to be accomplished? Take care, he said, that you do not allow anyone to deceive you. Many will come making use of my name. They will say, Here I am. The time is close at hand. Do not turn aside after them. And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed by it. Such things must happen first, but the end will not come all at once. Then he told them, Nation will rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes in this region or that, and plagues and famines, and sites of terror, and great portents from heaven. Before all this, men will be laying hands on you and persecuting you. They will give you up to the synagogues and to the prison and drag you into the presence of kings and governors on my account. That will be your opportunity for making the truth known. Resolve then not to prepare your manner of answering beforehand. I will give you such eloquence and such wisdom all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to confute. You will be given up by parents and brethren and kinsmen and friends, and some of you will be put to death. All the world will be hating you because you bear my name, and yet no hair of your head shall perish. It is by endurance that you will secure possession of your souls. A little thought in closing. Before you set your hearts too much upon anything, examine how happy they are who already possess it.