We are fortunate that every time we open our eyes when we wake up in the morning we give thanks to God for another opportunity and experience of God’s love and His presence. I know that life’s difficulties are still there, but what is important is to choose our encounter with God daily. If we pray for an absence of trials, then we miss the point “to recognize the time of His visitation,” which He desires to accompany us as we go through life.
The first reading today continues to reveal that there is that difficulty in welcoming the Lord on a daily basis. There are so many struggles in man’s life that result in failing to recognize the Lord’s visitation. One of the elders said, “Do not weep. The Lion of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scrolls with its seven seals.” That lion mentioned surprisingly became the lamb that was slain, pointing toward Jesus, who offered Himself as a sacrifice. This is related to the passage from the book of Genesis 49.9. St. John wrote the passage to support the persecuted Christians to seek comfort in the Lord, who is the lamb offering His blood for all of us.
The gospel today narrates that Jesus wept for the people of Jerusalem because they had an opportunity to take the peaceful way. However, the people never realized that the visitation of the Lord was so decisive.
Many people today do not realize that either. Those who recognize the signs, and know that Christ is peace, gain that peace. Those who do not recognize the time of their visitation get destruction. Jesus weeps for them, knowing they had an opportunity to take the appropriate route but did not.
Many of us never realize enough that we are slow to acknowledge the surprising mystery around us. We often look for the Lord in places of expected might and power, according to the world’s standards, missing Him where He chooses to show Himself in humility and not in power.
Let us pray that we open our heart and eyes to be quick in knowing that God manifests Himself in so many ways and forms.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa