In this morning’s Gospel, we see an abrupt change, a swift shift in the moment’s mood. Just a moment before this scene, we have the people shouting praise, singing songs, and lauding Jesus as the King of Kings. They remind us that we will be celebrating the end of our liturgical year in a few days, but that also should make us pause. This prophetic utterance of Jesus reminds us of the cost of that, which will be paid because of the people’s sin. “He saw the city and wept over it, saying, If this day you only knew what makes for peace.” We today know that the cost was the cross; the debt to be paid was paid by the death of our savior on calvary.
But how do we apply this moment to our lives today? How do we look at Jesus weeping over an ancient city two thousand years ago to our life here during the pandemic in the modern world? St. Gregory the Great once wrote: “He shed his tears once when he announced that the city was going to be destroyed; but our Redeemer also continues to spread every day through his chosen, when he sees some people abandon their holy life. So he weeps over people who do not know why they should be crying. If they knew the damnation that threatens them, they would mingle their tears with those of the elect to cry over themselves.” He reminds us that we should be praying fervently for those lost, especially those who have fallen away from the Church today.
He goes on to say that we should realize that this scripture is also about spiritual warfare. Saint Luke writes that our enemies will surround us and build walls around us. He reminds us that the devil and his minions surround us like a roaring lion, seeking to destroy us. Like Jerusalem, we are besieged constantly by temptation. We have lost the sense in modern society of judgment day. Too many see it as simply a moment of meeting a friend. At this moment, everyone just gathers together, singing songs and walking hand and hand through the gate. The early Church didn’t speak in these terms. They remind us that Jesus is mercy, but He is also justice. Do we weep with Jesus? Do we still have a reverential and holy fear of God? As we approach this weekend, we are reminded that this life will end. Like Jerusalem, will we be without walls to protect us? I want to leave you with one final quote from St. Gregory to meditate on:
“So we must take care to meditate every day in tears with what fury and under what terrifying aspect Satan will come, on the day of our death, to claim what in us belongs to him, since he dared to address even to our God when he died in his flesh, to try to seek in him something [which belonged to him], without being able to find anything.” Let us never forget that the Eucharist makes present to us the only remedy, brings to this moment the “price that makes for peace.” Cling to Him, for if Satan finds Him residing in you, if the city we live in is the Body of Christ, then even if he could surround you, the walls of Christ will never fall down.
A reflection on the readings for Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time: November 18th, 2021.