DAILY- HOMILY

November 22, 2018 – THURSDAY, 33RD Week in Ordinary Time

St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

Memorial. Red.

Rv 5: 1 - 10 / Lk 19: 41 - 44

St. Cecilia (d. c.ll7) was martyred for her unwillingness to sacrifice to the pagan gods.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Rv 5: 7- 10

The Lamb moved forward and took the book from the right hand of him who was seated at the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed before the Lamb. They all held in their hands harps and golden cups full of incense which are the prayers of the holy ones.

This is the song they sang: You are worthy to take the book and open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you purchased for God people of every race, language and nation; and you made them a kingdom of priests for our God and they shall reign over the land.

GOSPEL READING:           Lk 19: 41 - 44

When Jesus had come in sight of the city, he wept over it and said, "If only today you knew the ways of peace! But now your eyes are held from seeing. Yet days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and shut you in and press on you from every side. And they will dash you to the ground and your children with you, and leave not a stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and visitation of your God."

REFLECTION

As we near the end of the liturgical year, we have readings about the end of time, about apocalyptic happenings as given in the Book of Revelation. Today's first reading speaks of the triumph and glory of the Lamb of God.

In the Gospel reading Jesus weeps over Jerusalem: he wept not only because Jerusalem rejected his teaching and salvation but also because the city itself would be destroyed and annihilated, "they will dash you to the ground and your children with you, and leave not a stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and visitation of your God."

Jesus loved Jerusalem, the city of David, the seat of the temple of Solomon, the seat of the Holy of Holies. It was the city of Yahweh, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.

Yet Jerusalem did not recognize and welcome its God when he came. Instead

Jerusalem crucified its God on Calvary, just outside its walls.

We pray that we may "recognize the time and visitation of our God" in our lives. We pray that our eyes may see and recognize him, that our ears may hear and listen to him and that our hearts may embrace and love him.

Have a good day!

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