Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

 

Gospel Reading: 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.”

 

What things in your life bring turmoil or keep you from a relationship with God. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is weeping because of the pending actions of the people of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was supposed to be the center of the Jewish kingdom; the most holy city in the world. Yet the people from this city were about to crucify him. Jesus is upset because the citizens of Jerusalem are about to reject the Son of God and in turn reject God himself. Jesus came to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth, to establish joy and righteousness. He came to bring us peace, hope and the joy of knowing God personally. He came to concur evil and defeat Satan. Instead of accepting him, they rejected him.  So many times in our own lives we are overcome with turmoil because we fail to accept Christ into our lives.  We refuse to encounter him and form a relationship with him.  Because of our refusal to encounter him, our lives our upside down. 

 

Even though we deny him, Jesus still allowed himself to be crucified for the sins of all the world for all of time.  Even today, the world continues to reject Christ.  It is up to us to encounter Christ and renew him within the world.  For there to be peace, we must begin with a simple encounter in prayer.  Our prayer leads us to communion with Christ and ultimately communion with the rest of the world.   Like Christ, we must be sorrowful for our sins and our failings.  Being sorrowful for our sins is what leads to true reconciliation for the trespasses we cause against others. Jesus’ wept over our sins and our unfaithfulness. Our weeping leads to true peace and reconciliation not only with God but with our neighbor as well. This weeping brings about the peace which makes for lasting friendship, joy, and unity. This is what forms communion.  Therefore, our sorrowfulness for our sins is a demonstration of true penance.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord Jesus, you weep for my sins and my unfaithfulness.

May I learn to be remorseful for my sins to bring joy and happiness to you and your church.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon