Daily Gospel Reflection for November 17, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 19:41-44

Upon first glance, today’s Gospel can seem scary. But upon further reflection, we see that Jesus’ message is so much more than a message of impending doom.

Jesus is lamenting over His people. I can imagine Him standing on a high mountain looking over the entirety of the city of Jerusalem, the most holy city, and weeping.

Why would He weep over Jerusalem? It isn’t often in the Bible that we find Jesus crying, so there must be a reason why tears were shed by our Lord.

The scripture says Jesus “drew near.” In looking closer at the Greek translation of this word, it means extreme closeness, a presence, it is here. As Jesus drew closer to Jerusalem and to his people, He knew what was to come. Maybe He cried over knowing what was to come, but chances are His tears were for those who did not accept Him as the messiah. He was shedding tears over His own people.

Are you in a situation today where you are questioning your faith, where God has you, or what He is doing? Today, Jesus is saying draw near to me, I am close, feel my presence, I am here. He is looking on a mountaintop over your whole life, telling you to look to Him for your peace. The world simply has nothing to offer us, and the result of turning our eyes away from Christ is God’s tears and beckoning us to come back.

And how can we feel close to our Lord if we need Him? If we have been away from Him? The Eucharist, always the Eucharist. In Him we can live and move and have our being. In Him is our only means of peace.

Ponder:

When is the last time I gazed upon the crucifix as I received Holy Communion?

Pray:

Lord, help me to see that You are my only peace. Give me peace through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

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The world simply has nothing to offer us, and the result of turning our eyes away from Christ is God’s tears and beckoning us to come back. #dailygospel

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