First Reading - 1 Maccabees 2:15-29
Gospel - Luke 19:41-44
The first reading demonstrates an example of faithful conviction of faith by Mattathias and his sons. The intensity of persecution against Jews had been heightened by Antiochus and his officials. However, this gave birth to resistance by Mattathias and his sons who wanted to swerve nowhere but remain faithful to the commandment of the Lord. The revolt of Mattathias in the reading is an example of convinced faith. Whereas the other Jews, because of their shallow faith, readily accepted to renounce the injunctions of the commandment regarding the prohibition of offering sacrifices to idols.
It was when two-and-a-half million people were present in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast of Passover that Jesus’ followers paraded with him for a distance of two miles from the Mount of Olives to the city of Jerusalem. But when the procession reached the spot from which there was a magnificent view of the city of Jerusalem, Jesus started to weep. Later, Jesus explained why he loved the city, which was the center of Judaism, Yahweh’s promised place of terrestrial residence and the culminating point of Jesus’ public ministry. He could not foresee without tears its destruction in A.D. 70 by Titus, who would totally demolish the Temple and the city after massacring most of its residents. Jesus explained the destruction of the city as a punishment from God because its inhabitants had failed to recognize the time of their visitation. In other words, Jerusalem had closed her doors, and her inhabitants had closed their hearts, to the salvific coming and message of the Redeemer. In spite of Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry among the Chosen people, they had largely rejected him, and their leaders were planning to crucify him.
Dear friends, the gospel recounts the weeping of Jesus over Jerusalem. It is the cry of sadness and deep sorrow. Jesus is sad not because of destruction of the physical landscape of Jerusalem but because of the rejection by people of his good news of salvation and failure to recognize his coming. The lack of disbelief and rejection are demonstrated by people show their closed heart to see and accept him. Jesus feels sorry for that.
In the first reading, we come across some Jews who had shallow faith which was due to their closed hearts to recognize God in their midst during persecution whereas Mattathias and his sons exhibit convinced faith due to their open hearts to see God present in that dire situation. This also tells us that we will be able to see and recognize Jesus always amidst us through the eyes of faith and open hearts and eventually this will lead us to our convinced faith.
God comes to us everyday in the Eucharist, through the Word of God and in the events of our lives, we can perceive Him if we see Him with open hearts or eyes of faith.
Let's implore God's grace so that we may be able to grow our faith to conviction.
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