Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem

NOVEMBER 17, 2022, THURSDAY
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious (White)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 500

Reading 1
RV 5:1-10

I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.

It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.

Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice,

“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth

was able to open the scroll or to examine it.

I shed many tears because no one was found worthy

to open the scroll or to examine it.

One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.

The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,

enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne

and the four living creatures and the elders

a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.

He had seven horns and seven eyes;

these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.

He came and received the scroll from the right hand

of the one who sat on the throne.

When he took it,

the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders

fell down before the Lamb.

Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,

which are the prayers of the holy ones.

They sang a new hymn:

“Worthy are you to receive the scroll

and break open its seals,

for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God

those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.

You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,

and they will reign on earth.”

 

Responsorial Psalm
PS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B

R. (Rev. 5:10) The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song

of praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Israel be glad in their maker,

let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

For the LORD loves his people,

and he adorns the lowly with victory.

R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Let the faithful exult in glory;

let them sing for joy upon their couches;

Let the high praises of God be in their throats.

This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

or:

R. Alleluia.

 

 

Alleluia
PS 95:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

If today you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
LK 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,

he saw the city and wept over it, saying,

“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–

but now it is hidden from your eyes.

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.

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.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Jesus wept over his city. He felt deep sorrow at its resistance to God’s word, as he foresaw the disaster it would soon face. I too can look around me, at my country, at the world, and feel sorrow at so much disregard for truth and for what is right, at so much corruption and all the suffering it brings in its wake.

Peace and contentment are two blessings that we desire in life and when we lack them we are greatly disturbed. Jesus, too, was disturbed and wept at the future destruction of his beloved Jerusalem. He offers us a peace that the world cannot give and can only be found in friendship with Him.

PRAYER:

‘Blessed are those who mourn, they shall be comforted’. Lord help me never to get used to the evil around me, keep my heart sensitive to the selfishness and abuse of power that is the cause of so much suffering. I pray especially never to close my heart to migrants in their struggles.