In the first reading today from Revelation 5, we see a striking figure in John’s vision of heaven. An angel asks the question, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And then we see Him. “A Lamb that seemed to have been slain.” The next time you’re at Mass and the priest holds up the consecrated host and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world…”, try to see just what John describes in today’s reading.
In the Gospel reading from Luke 19, Jesus sees his final destination, Jerusalem, from a distance. He begins to weep and says, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.” I don’t know about you, but tears well up in my eyes just reading this passage. I can just feel the great love that Jesus had for this great city. And yet, they couldn’t see the forest for the trees.
These words of Jesus beg the question: What makes for peace? It seems that peace can be such an elusive thing. So many people seem to have no peace in their lives. They suffer from the same malady that Jerusalem did in those days. They do not recognize the Son of God. Jesus was right in front of them, yet they could not see who He truly is. It reminds me of a bumper sticker. No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace.
Father, help us to be people of peace. As we increase our knowledge of and faith in Jesus, let us experience more and more of His peace. Amen.
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