"As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it." - Luke 19:41
As I reflected on the readings for today, verse 41 drew my attention. I was reminded of the famous painting I saw the first time I was in Italy. The painting, by Alessandro Turchi, entitled, "Christ's Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem", is clearly about Palm Sunday, where we see Jesus being celebrated and welcomed into Jerusalem. But it is about so much more than that. I remember looking at His face as He glanced upwards. Only God knew what was about to happen. But the artist tried to paint what might have been on Jesus' mind as he entered the city with the figures of five angels descending from the skies, holding the items that represent the Passion. Can you imagine what that must have felt like? He felt such sorrow for the city because they rejected God's word, that it moved him to tears.
I think about our country and what we are currently going through. The inequality, the fighting, the lack of reverence, and the rejection of God°and I can easily imagine that He is weeping for us as well. However, Luke did not write about this just to inform us of how sad Jesus was, but to encourage us as well. Jesus may have wept for what was going on, but He also continued down that road, spreading the Good News as He went. Just like the inhabitants of Jerusalem, we too have been told what to do in the verse from Micah 6:8 – "Do Justice, Love Mercy, and Walk humbly with your God." As disciples, we are called to never give up but instead, to courageously follow Jesus as we change the world with love and the work we do for justice.
How can I become involved in evangelizing the Good News so as to work for change in my world?
Lord, show me where I can spread your love and work for justice in my community. Amen
Reflection by:
Char Lerch, Lay Pastoral Minister and Volunteer at Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon
