The precious time that we have with Jesus should not be squandered. We should cherish this and savor it, for the times that we feel separated from Him and can return to those personal moments for reflection and meditation.
Today is the birthday of my mother, who passed away 23 years ago now. I remember the moments when she looked after me when I needed to be comforted. She was the face of Christ is my life.
The New Jerusalem
Last night I had a strange dream. It was about Palestinians living in the disputed territories and their being deprived the “better service’s offered to the new Jewish settlers. What was unusual about this was the dream was specifically about parks, schools, roads and the like.
When I awoke, I googled search words on this topic, and found the following:
http://blog.theheadlines.org/thehead/?paged=2
If you don’t want to read this, then just be assured it confirms the contents of this dream is happening, perhaps not rocket science that these problems exist, but I have no particular recollection of this specific news crossing my TV or computer screen recently.
Then, after discussing this with my wife over breakfast, I see the words of Isaiah as I prepared to write this reflection for the day. The discussion I had been having with my wife had led to the topic of Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem.
Now I am not an expert on eschatology (the end times), but I have spent a lot of time physically in the middle east during my life, so know something of life there. I also perceive our journey here on earth as a movement towards that New Jerusalem, a divine path which we are all called to one way or another.
I have emboldened the parts of this reading that I think are most relevant.
Reading 1 Is 65:17-21
Thus says the LORD:
Lo, I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
The things of the past shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create;
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight;
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and exult in my people.
No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;
No longer shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime;
He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years,
and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.
They shall live in the houses they build,
and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.
So what is the point of this reflection? I am not really sure precisely, but it seems like a call to action. As I pray and discern on this some more, I will post accordingly.
There are so many potential insights to today’s Gospel, it’s hard to create a single reflection that brings them to light. First of all Jesus is predicting his rejection by His people, in this case, the leaders of one Jewish sect … the Pharisees. They don’t want to hear His message, the scorn His followers, they want to protect their own self righteousness and ultimately are successful in killing Him through persecution. Jesus predicts all of this, and the downfall of those who knowingly reject Him. How much of that message is still relevant today. A great deal. You only have to look at the media criticizing our outgoing Pope to see that today.
Secondly, the objective of all this persecution is to open up Jesus’s salvific love to the rest of mankind. From His sacrifice and a handful of followers a sixth of the world’s population now follow this message.
Thirdly, we now have the message of obedience. Jesus knew what was ahead, He revealed more to the disciples, who sometimes weren’t the best listeners until after His death and resurrection. He followed the path set out from the beginning of His mission with great loyalty, never wavering in His love, even when surrounded by misunderstanding and mistreatment.
Can we open ourselves today to hear these messages being sent to us from over two thousand years? Do we feel His love touching our everyday lives? Are we persecuted perhaps … can we call on Him for assistance.
Yes, we can.
Daily prayers and meditations 