Jesus said, “If you only knew today what is needed
for peace! But now you cannot see it!” (Lk 19: 42)
Today’s Passage: Lk 19:41-44
Meditation: How sharp Jesus’ word in today’s meditation verse
is! It is true that many are very happy with Jesus’ picture of everlasting
love, forgiving love, compassionate etc. All these pictures are real and true.
However, there are moments where even this ever-forgiving God himself cannot do
anything for you. It is about this moment St. Augustine says, “God who created
you without your consent and cooperation, won’t redeem you without your consent
and cooperation.”
It is true that he forgives and accepts us even at the
last moment. We experience this forgiving love in its abundance on the cross as
we hear, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.” (Lk 23:43)
Again, Jesus’ prayer on the cross, before God the father, for the forgiveness
of those who sinned against him and his imparting of power to Peter who denied
him thrice are also moments of his compassionate and forgiving love.
Truly, he longs for the return of each and every
sinner and is waiting for them. All the three parables of the fifteenth chapter
of Luke underline this truth; the parables of lost sheep, lost coin, and
prodigal son. There we read, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner
who repents than over ninety nine respectable people who do not need to
repent;” (Lk 15:7) “the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents;” (Lk
15:10) and “we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead,
but now he is alive, he was lost, but now he has been found.” (Lk 15:32)
However, he laments, “If you only knew today what is
needed for peace! But now you cannot see it!” (Lk 19: 42) Those who walk away
from God and boasts of their bad ways should know that there comes a moment in
their life, where they no more can think of God or salvation. Going after evil
ways make you deprived of the Holy Spirit who guides in the path of the Lord.
Jesus says, “But now you cannot see it!” Therefore, let us not dishearten
ourselves and turn against God.
Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily
eternal bread. Have mercy on us! O Lord, many a time we were on our own
self-centered ways. We had forsaken you and sought for the worldly pleasures.
Lord, help us to return to you and your ways. Give your Holy Spirit in its
abundance that we may always walk in your path. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen!
Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Thursday…
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