The Holy Gospel according to Luke (19:41-44)
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
Encountering Christ: Have you ever taken a blazing log or coal from a fire and kept it away from the fire; and just watched it. Eventually, it loses its heat and dies out. Living a life away from God – who is the Fire of Life – will cause tepidity and apathy to sneak in, leading to us a slow but sure loss of life.
Today’s Gospel is the dramatic incident of Jesus crying over the City of Jerusalem, they failed to understand the coming of the Messiah – they lost the opportunity to truly be the “Jerusalem – the City of Peace!”
The heart of a parent is broken, when the child strays away from the ways of truth and honesty. If this is the experience of our earthly parents, how much more will be the pain and suffering of our God, if we stray away from Him, who loves each one of us deeply with a tender affection? It is this sorrow and grief that is strongly expressed by Jesus in the Gospel of the day.
This story of Jerusalem could well be our own life-story. We have been specially chosen and loved by the Lord. He has taken us through many dangers, sicknesses and accidents. In times when everything seems lost, He has been our refuge. In moments when all seemed dark, He has been that glowing light. We tend to easily forget all these good deeds and wonders of the Lord.
How do we show Him our gratitude? By living a holy and virtuous life, by deepening our bond of love and affection with Him, by translating His graces into deeds of charity and concern for our neighbor and family.
Let us seek the intercession of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, the Patron Saint of bakers, brides, and charities, whose feast we celebrate today.
Action of the Day: Here are some simple ways to show your love for God:
- Trust in His Plan – “I have plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)
- Be Obedient – willingly and sincerely – to His Commandments – if you love someone, you show them respect, and obedience/respect from the heart means to follow His commandments
- Love and Serve Others – when you love someone, you serve them – that is heart of a disciple of Jesus – servant leadership
- Make Time for Him – pray, spend time in Adoration, get lost in a conversation with God
Simple ways to show how we love Him.
Audio Reflection:
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