REFLECTIONS TODAY
The popular meaning of the name Jerusalem is “city of peace,” from the Hebrew shalom, “peace.” The city might be identified with “Salem” where Melchizedek once reigned (Gn 14:18). Pilgrims who went up the city to worship God in the temple would pray for the peace of the city: “For the peace of Jerusalem pray: ‘May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers’” (Ps 122:6-7). Jesus, on approaching Jerusalem, weeps over the city because he knows that peace is hidden from its eyes. He comes as king of peace, meek and humble, but the populace will clamor for a revolutionary leader, a political Messiah. Unable to bear the heavy yoke of the Romans, the people will later be pushed by their leaders to declare an open revolt. The city and the temple would be razed to the ground in the year 70 AD.
GOSPEL • 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.”SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.