33RD THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 19:41-44) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
FIRST READING - 1 Macc 2:15-29
"I and my sons and my kindred will keep to the covenant of our ancestors."
A reading from the First Book of Maccabees
15 The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them sacrifice. 16 Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons drew together. 17 Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kindred. 18 Come now, be the first to obey the king’s command, as all the Gentiles and Judeans and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King’s Friends,[a] and you and your sons shall be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”
19 But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that they forsake the religion of their ancestors and consent to the king’s orders, 20 yet I and my sons and my kindred will keep to the covenant of our ancestors. 21 Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. 22 We will not obey the words of the king by departing from our religion in the slightest degree.”
23 As he finished saying these words, a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king’s order. 24 When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar. 25 At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. 26 Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.
27 Then Mattathias cried out in the city, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow me!” 28 Then he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind in the city all their possessions.
29 At that time many who sought righteousness and justice went out into the wilderness[b] to settle there,
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 19:41-44
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace."
✠From the Gospel according to Luke
41 As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 [a]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. 44 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.”
33RD THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 19:41-44)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The Word of God in today's Gospel speaks of Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem, weeping over the people living in that city.
For the Jewish people awaited the Lord's arrival to grant them peace and save them from the hands of their enemies. However, when God arrived, they were blinded by Satan, obscured by the material things of the world, and thus failed to see the presence of God among them.
The presence of God is His self and body, His virtuous and meritorious deeds, and the teachings originating from God the Father spoken through the mouth of the Son of God, who is Jesus Christ.
God weeps over the city of Jerusalem, just as He weeps over the children of God who are engrossed in the material things of the world, forgetting His teachings, and failing to listen to God's word and to put it into practice.
The Lord's Word also warns humanity in today's world: “If only today you recognized the peace of God to be among you.”
God also calls upon people in today’s world to be vigilant in all places and at all times, to be vigilant against the temptations of Satan regarding the glory, ambition, and worldly gain that have obscured the Word of God taught to all humanity.
The Word of God is always inscribed and present in the heart of every person, but people are not vigilant enough to listen to the Word of God’s teaching and put it into practice.
Therefore, the Word of the Lord today calls upon everyone to:
Be vigilant against your evil words, actions, deeds, and thoughts that do not come from God.
Run to God, so that He may grant additional strength, peace, and happiness.
Only God can bring eternal life, the life of the Kingdom of Heaven, to humanity in today's world.
God's love is always bestowed and shining upon all humanity, but people today live so far from the light of God. Therefore, God wishes to call all His children to run to Him, who is the light of truth, the light of the eternal life of the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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