Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: "Although all the Gentiles in the king's realm obey him, so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers and consents to the king's orders, yet I and my sons and my kinsmen will keep to the covenant of our fathers. God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. 1 Maccabees 19-21
As he drew near, 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." Luke 19:41-44
Piety
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Study
In these waning days of the liturgical year, the examples we have considered from sacred scripture readings and the feasts and memorials of various saints have helped us focus with laser precision on people who are faithful to God’s commandments over any other influences – financial, political, military or commercial. St. Leo the Great, St. Martin of Tours, Mattathias, the seven brothers, Eleazar, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Mother Cabrini, and Jesus.
When Gospel of Luke is considered together with the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we find that these books share many stories and sayings uttered by Jesus. However, Luke also stands out with much more unique content unique content not found in John or other well-known common sources. St. Luke is the only evangelist who tells the stories of the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan and the Corrupt Steward. Today’s story of Jesus weeping as he arrives in Jerusalem is another unique element told only by Luke. As the year wraps up, we also continue to consider some of the unique stories Luke offers which are not found in the other Gospels.
Today’s episode of Jesus weeping over the city when he arrives in Jerusalem is one such uniquely Luke story. This is not, however, Luke’s first reference to Jesus’ lamentation over Jerusalem. The first occurred in 13:33-35: Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.' "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. (But) I tell you, you will not see me until (the time comes when) you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
Luke (and our modern translator’s) use of the word visitation also is a stark reminder and contrast to Mary’s visitation to her sister Elizabeth. Although
The sorrow for Jerusalem is a sorrow for the people who did not live out the kind of fidelity to the Lord among them that the heroes and heroines of the Hebrew Bible and saints did in their lives. As the notes in the New American Bible teach us, “By not accepting Jesus (the one who mediates peace), Jerusalem will not find peace but will become the victim of devastation.”
When Jesus does enter the city, Luke has him proceed directly to the temple where he cleanses the temple. Once the temple was claimed and cleansed for the Father, Jesus then offered his own body to the Father to save all those who had rejected him. As Jerusalem faces physical destruction, so, too does Jesus. He weeps not only for the city and his friends there. He also weeps because he knows what lies ahead in the short remaining hours of his life.
Such a downfall also was predicted at the outset of this book. We recall the foretelling of this lamentation when new parents filled with hope presented their young son to Simeon in the temple. Rather than seeing the hope in this child, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:34-35
Thus, the rejection Jesus was destined to experience for his unrequited, unconditional love is part of the source of this latest lamentation…even though it is a rejection he expected from the outset of his ministry (“…no prophet is accepted in his own native place.”).
Yet, throughout the year, in the midst of this rejection by the rulers and the most powerful, the sick, the oppressed, the blind and the lepers turned repeatedly to Jesus and showed a faith that would save themselves. How different a fate they experienced because they could look upon the Lord and say, “Jesus, Son of God, have pity on me.”
Jesus wept one other time in the Gospel…not when he was scourged. Not when he wore the crown of thorns. Not when the nails were hammered into his hands. Not even when the sword was thrust in his side. Our other example of Jesus weeping was outside the tomb of Lazarus. Just as he saw his own destruction reflected back on him from Jerusalem, Lazarus also forced Jesus to confront his own humanity.
More often, Jesus was trying to stop the weeping such as when he raised the Roman official’s young daughter from the dead, (Mark 5/Luke 8) and then finally when he comforted Mary outside his own tomb. She approached the grave alone weeping. Jesus appeared to her and reminded her that the time for weeping was no more.
Action
Instead of rejection, the Lord longs for our praise and fidelity. As we are reminded in Psalm 50:14-15, “Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; fulfill your vows to the Most High. Then call on me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall honor me.”
For what can you offer your praise to the Lord today? For what distress do you need to call upon his holy name for rescue?
