First Reading: 1 Mac 2:15-29; Psalm: 50. R. v. 23; Gospel: Lk 19:41-44

GOD SHOULD NOT WEEP ON OUR ACCOUNT

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

“As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it” (Lk 19:41).

Aside the death of Lazarus, this will be the only time that Jesus wept again as recorded in the scriptures. Whatever moved Jesus to tears must be something very severe. If the death of his beloved friend Lazarus moved him to tears, then whatever caused his weeping in the gospel of today must be something as serious as losing a beloved one also. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem upon foreseeing its destruction. The inhabitants of this city had the chance of averting this disaster but did not seize the moment.

The people of Jerusalem failed to recognise their time of divine visitation. They turned deaf ear to the gospel message and rejected Jesus the Prince of Peace. Jesus wept because he knew their end would be disastrous. What could be worse than refusing divine visitation or turning deaf ear to the Words of salvation? It’s even worse than physical death because the soul is doomed too.

Could Jesus be weeping for us also? Are we wasting our opportunities to be saved? Have we become too indifferent to the teachings of the gospel? The tears of Jesus show how very much he is concerned about the salvation of our soul. In life, opportunities don’t stay; they happen. Jesus therefore calls us today to seize every opportunity we have right now to do right by opening our hearts to his message of salvation. Because a time will come when it will be too late to avert the obvious impending consequences of our choices.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY        

Lord Jesus, open our hearts to accept your word and be saved. Amen.