Daily Mass Readings and Daily Meditation ”The Word Among Us” ~ Thursday, 31 October 2013

Daily Mass Readings and Daily Meditation ”The Word Among Us” ~ Thursday, 31 October 2013

Meditation: Luke 13:31 On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”

32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission. 33  Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.’

34  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused! 35  Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” ✡(Messianic WEB)

30th Week in Ordinary Time

Jerusalem, Jerusalem! (Luke 13:34)

Neither Herod in his desire to kill Jesus nor the Pharisees in their attempt to protect him could dissuade Jesus from fulfilling the Father’s plan of salvation. That plan was formed long ago, and Jesus had dedicated his life to carrying it out. He knew that he must meet Jerusalem and the cross, and he said as much to the Pharisees: “I must continue on my way … for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem” (Luke 13:33).

As he journeyed toward this final hour, Jesus mourned, for he knew well that his sacrifice would not be able to save those who had rejected him. Jerusalem had been the scene of the brutal murders of many of God’s prophets; Jesus would be no exception. But he still wanted the people of Jerusalem to come to him. Just as a mother and father cannot force a wayward child back to them, Jesus could not demand that his people respond to his offer of mercy and redemption. They had to choose on their own.

Jesus’ words revealed the heart of one who grieves for us, not for himself. He would go willingly to the cross to win our forgiveness. Without a trace of bitterness or resentment, he freely gave himself for us, knowing that not everyone would accept him. And just as he foretold, he arrived in Jerusalem amidst cries of praise: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). Days later, however, the same people who had rejoiced at his coming would release a notorious prisoner rather than save Jesus from the cross (23:18-19). By their own choosing, those who rejected him would experience their house being forsaken. How this knowledge must have saddened Jesus!

Our own “house” need not be forsaken. Even though we are sinners, Jesus awaits us, longing to gather us to him. Nothing that we have ever done, no matter how sinful, can keep him from loving us. He never forces us to return to him. As he did with the people of Jerusalem, he leaves the decision to us.

So what will you do today? Gather with him? Or let yourself be scattered?

“Jesus, thank you for loving me even when I turned away from you. Bring everyone—even those who seem far away from you—into your embrace.” AMEN!

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things? 33 Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Messiah who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”✡ 37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from God’s love, which is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.(Messianic WEB)

Psalm 109:21 But deal with me, the LORD the Lord,* for your name’s sake,

because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;

22 for I am poor and needy.

My heart is wounded within me.

26 Help me, LORD, my God.

Save me according to your loving kindness;

27 that they may know that this is your hand;

that you, LORD, have done it.

30 I will give great thanks to the LORD with my mouth.

Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.

31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy,

to save him from those who judge his soul.(Messianic WEB)

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