29-Oct-15

Gospel LK 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.”
Reflection:
We see here both the single mindedness of Jesus and his love and compassion for Jerusalem, the city where he will meet his death.
Undeterred by the Pharisees' warning that King Herod wants to kill him, he replies, "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."
In his next breath, he laments over Jerusalem, ".....how many times I yearned to gather your children together....." Then he issues a dire prediction, "Behold, your house will be abandoned."
As a modern day Christian, it is easy for me to lose sight of the reality that Jesus Christ dearly loved his own people, the Jews.
His desire was to gather them "as a hen gathers her brood under her wings."
Yet, even though they rejected him, though not all, he still with great deliberation resolutely marched toward Jerusalem to willingly give his life for those who would kill him so he could save them from their sins.
In today's gospel, we see Jesus living out the very words that he spoke in Luke 6:27-28: "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you"
In John 15:13, Jesus said, "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
In his rejection of hate and his affirmation of love, Jesus went one step beyond and laid down his life for the very people who feared him and crucified him.
It is easy to love those who love me, but I too am called to love and sacrifice for those who do not think well of me, including those who take advantage of me.
To be Christian is to follow the way of Christ.
"A man who was completely innocent, sacrificed himself for the sake of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom for the world. It was a perfect act." Mahatma Gandhi