November 19, 2020

Lk 19: 41-44

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Eyes open to the love of God

“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

Here in this Scripture that is occurring on Palm Sunday, Jesus weeps and cries out for the people of Jerusalem, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace.” Our lives are chaotic and filled with many distractions that cause us to easily forget what brings us peace. It is in these times of our forgetfulness, that we become blind to the love Christ has for us, and Jesus weeps. Christ calls us to abide by the simple terms of peace: lay down our lives for another, let go of our weapons of self-righteousness and self-sufficiency, and accept Christ as our king.

This reminds me of St. Augustine’s quote, “Our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Pope Francis tells us that Augustine is speaking of three types of restlessness: “the restlessness of spiritual seeking, the restlessness of the encounter with God, the restlessness of love.” This restlessness is a desire to know God and to have a deeper relationship with him. God is always there for us, never hidden from our eyes.

Are your eyes open to the love of God? Is your heart at peace knowing you are seen, heard, and deeply loved?

—Melodie Wyttenbach is the Executive Director at Boston College’s Roche Center for Catholic Education.

Prayer

Dear Lord,
Help me to recognize the kingdom of God is among us.
Allow my eyes to see Your presence in my daily life.
Allow my hands to serve others, so they may see Your presence through me.
Allow my heart to continue to grow, so I may be more like You.
Amen.

—Melodie Wyttenbach