Lent Week 4: Monday
JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM!
Jerusalem had everything. It was the holy city of the Jews. It was the center of religious life. Within its walls stood the Temple. Jerusalem held together the hearts and minds of the Chosen People. The Promised Messiah, the deliverer of Israel, was expected to rule from the heart of this place. Through Isaiah, God spoke of the many blessings he wished to bestow upon this city. He promised new heavens and a new earth that would bring joy and prosperity to all.
But great though it was, Jerusalem missed its chance. It failed to recognize the Messiah when he came. Jesus himself wept over the city because of its lack of faith in him (Luke 19:41). The religious leaders did not welcome their coming King. There were believers in Jerusalem, but the Lord Jesus also experienced rejection and scorn from many of its prominent citizens.
In contrast, the Gospel shows the fruit of the Lord’s ministry in Galilee, a region not known for religious purity or a glowing reputation. There were mixed reactions to Jesus there as well, yet there was often greater openness and warmth in the way people received him.
One such example is the royal official who came to Jesus to ask for the healing of his son, who was near death. The man invited Jesus to come to his home. While the Lord did not go with him, he spoke a word of assurance. The royal official believed what Jesus said. When he returned home, he rejoiced to find that his son had been healed and that his whole household had been touched by this gift.
At times, we find ourselves acting like the people of Jerusalem. We take pride in a sense of superiority and triumphalism. We begin to believe that we are morally or spiritually ahead of others. Because we go to church regularly, we scoff at those who miss their obligations. Because we serve faithfully, we easily judge those who are not involved. Because we try to follow the rules of the Church, we are quick to consider as sinners those who do not meet our standards of discipleship.
Often, it is only when we are humbled by the simple faith found in outsiders, in the marginalized, in the outcast, like the believers in Galilee that we realize our need for conversion and transformation. Today, let us repent of the sins of pride, judgmentalism, and exclusion that may be present in our way of thinking or acting. Let us ask for a humble and simple faith that holds on to the promises of Jesus, to his words of assurance, mercy, and love.
