OUR LORD WEEPS AT THE SIGHT OF JERUSALEM

OUR LORD WEEPS AT THE SIGHT OF JERUSALEM

By Fr. Felix (African Times Guest Writer)

Jesus has wept for Jerusalem already

(13.34-35), and he weeps over Jerusalem once

as he arrives and again as he leaves the city on

the way to execution (23.28-31).

This lament as he approaches the city is

composed entirely of phrases from the

prophets. Saturated by the prophecies as his

mind must have been, there is no reason why

Jesus should not have spoken these words.

Whether they are the actual words of Jesus or

Luke’s later reflection, they serve to emphasize

that the rejection of God’s messenger and

message which is now taking place is the

prophesied culmination of the previous

rebellions and rejections of God’s promises.

The tragic fulfilment of these words is all too

clear to see today at the base of the western

wall of the Temple. ‘Not a stone upon a stone’ is

fulfilled perhaps not literally but sufficiently.

Huge blocks of masonry lie there atop one

another, right along the base of the wall, so

heavy that one is surprised that the Roman

soldiers at the Sack of Jerusalem in 70AD had

adequate ropes and pulleys to manhandle such

massive destruction.

The savage operation is described in eye-

witness detail by the contemporary Jewish

general and historian.

The Gospel of The Lord reminds us we the

faithfuls that Father, when people saw beauty

and marveled at it in the Temple, Jesus your

son saw the ugliness of destruction yet to

come. And weep for the youth in its destructive

consequences for the future. Heal them ,

sustain us and keep us eternally for you.