Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 13:31-35

 

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus agonizes over the reluctance of Jerusalem to recognize the prophets which God has sent. Over the centuries, God sent many prophets to save Jerusalem, yet the prophets who were sent were stoned or killed. The Pharisees are wanting Jesus to leave their area of Israel because he has exposed their hypocrisy and duplicity. Jesus tells the Pharisees that they will not treat him any different than the past prophets. “Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.” Jesus’ mission was to save us, yet humanity wanted to kill him. In today’s gospel, Jesus predicts his pending passion in Jerusalem. He tells the Pharisees that he, like all the previous prophets, will be killed in Jerusalem, but not before he is greeted with love and compassion – “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”. How easily we were swayed by those who are belligerent.

Jesus compares himself to a mother hen. He wants to reach out and gather all the children of Israel and protect them from this hypocrisy. However, he knows that because of the hardness of their hearts, they are blind to the true will of God. On Sunday we love him, but what happens on Monday? We too can act like the Pharisees. How often do we want to turn off that little voice in our head which tells us not to do something? How often do we rationalize our sins? We allow deceit and deception to lead us away from the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ wants to reach out and protect us under his wings. He wants to gather us in his house to protect us from the evil which is prevalent in the world today and to save us from the demons and heal us from our pains. We must remember that Christ came to this world to save us, not to condemn us. It was us who condemned him. Do you stone him or do you accept him? Which path will you walk today and which path will you walk tomorrow? Open your heart to God and allow him to reach out and protect you. It is your choice to accept his love.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Father God in Heaven, Open my heart to your will.

I am weak and you give me strength.

Bring me into your protection that I may find your glory.

Help me fight the hypocrisy of the world today so I can live with you for eternity.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon