JESUS' SORROW

1 Maccabees 2:15-29; Psalm 50 to the upright I will show the saying power of God; Luke 19:41-44

What a contrast in today's readings.

We have the Maccabean revolt spurred on by zeal for the God of ISrael and his covenant and in the gospel Jesus  laments over the city of Jerusalem, and perhaps all of humanity, of their lack of zeal and attentiveness to God's reach into their lives.

Strange how one generation is ready to lay it all on the line and the other generation has grown stagnant and slothful in their faithfulness to God's will and call.

This seems to be a pattern played out all too often from generation to generation.

This generation has to make a decision as to where it will fall: zeal for the Lord or slothfulness.

The last words of the gospel again today are striking, "because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."


Could this be a verdict assed upon us in our day and age?  If Jesus were here would he lament over us?

Have we failed to recognize the time of our visitation?  Do we see God's presence and invitation right before our eyes?