Gospel Reflection for The 21st day of November in the year of Our Lord, 2024
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel
Luke 19:41-44
41 And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying: 42 If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace; but now they are hidden from thy eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and straiten thee on every side, 44 And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee: and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation.
As I explained in our recent discussion of the End Times, Jesus's words that are so often misconstrued as being about His second coming were actually referencing the events that would follow His crucifixion. So, too, in today's Gospel our Lord was not speaking of a time far in the future. Jesus wept over the city and the people that He loved, because He knew what was to come just a few decades later. As He predicted, the Temple was destroyed. Jerusalem was destroyed. Israel as a nation was destroyed. Countless men, women and children were killed. Those who survived were sent into exile, no longer allowed to return to Israel. They found refuge throughout the continent, dispersed into often very small groups. For the next 2,000 years they would suffer persecution, discrimination, hatred and genocide.
Of course, Jesus wept. Jesus who died for each individual, the good shepherd who cared for every sheep, knew what was to come and was struck with deep sorrow. If you visit the Holocaust museum or a German concentration camp today, the sorrow and horror you will feel is overwhelming. But, the Nazi persecution was but one horrific event in 2,000 years.
To the Roman government, the Jews were a troublesome and rebellious people. Rome was a militaristic nation that was not merciful to its enemies. That Rome laid waste to Jerusalem is understandable. Why though, have Jews been persecuted ever since? Many have stated that it was because they rejected Christ. There is likely some truth to that, as the Bible tells us that the sins of the fathers are visited on the children. But, we have to remember that about half of all Jews became Christian in the earliest years of the Church. The Apostles were all Jewish. Judaism is the very foundation of Christianity. And, I think that therein lies the answer. The devil hates the Jews because through them was born the one who would defeat him. Our Jesus, born a Jew to a Jewish Mother, is the King of the Universe and the salvation of all humanity.
While Catholics and Jews have many differences in belief and customs, and there are evil people in every race, we must remember that we are all part of the family of God. Judaism is the older brother to Christianity. The inheritance Christ gave to us was taken from them, and those alive today are not responsible for the actions of their ancestors. Moreover, Catholics have faced increasing persecution since the 1500s. We are very much in this fight together, especially against the forces of communism, secularism and radical Islam..... like it or not.
Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings January-June, 2025 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3M1WDZ
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
His new podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic
I agree with you Judson. You are exactly right!!! God bless you for boldly writing this reflection!!!
Judson,
I always recoil a bit when I see those that have rejected Christ described as our "brothers." Though we are in no way able to judge the salvation of others, that is our Lord's job, those of the Jewish faith who still reject Christ have been broken off from the blessing of Abraham. This in no way justifies any persecution or antisemitism. We are called to love our neighbor. Instead, this thought urges us to evangelize the Jewish people whom God loved first. St Paul writes,
"But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and have come to share in the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. If you do boast, consider that you do not support the root; the root supports you. Indeed you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is so. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you are there because of faith. So do not become haughty, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you either. (Romans 11:17–21)