REFLECTIONS TODAY

Jerusalem, the city of peace (Hebrew shalom) is a prominent place, for here stands the Temple: the place of God’s presence among his people. Jesus weeps over this city where his destiny will be accomplished. He comes as a meek king to offer the way of peace, but people, moved by their religious leaders, want a political Messiah to drive away the Romans. When the Jews rebel against the Romans, the city and the Temple are destroyed (AD 70).
The Jewish faith will survive through the efforts of the rabbis, with the Torah as foundation. The Christians, on the other hand, will see in Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary the new and eternal sacrifice to God. The Body of Christ, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, becomes the new Temple.
Jesus once said to the Samaritan woman, “The hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain (Gerizim) nor in Jerusalem… But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth” (Jn 4:21, 23).
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 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.