Don’t Cry For Me Argentina! | November 17, 2016

November 17, 2016

We’ve all heard that iconic statement from the musical, Evita, when political leader Eva Peron sings, “Don’t cry for me Argentina!!” and let’s face it, certain cities right now are crying over politics, but have YOU ever wept over a city? I have. The first time I flew into Rome, I had Andrea Bocelli’s The Prayer playing on my iPod and I simply started weeping as we touched down. I had dreamt of going to Italy my whole life. I was recently divorced and trying to get back to my center, similar to where I am at right now in my life. I guess when I grieve, I need to go away and collect myself before I can plant my feet firmly enough to move forward. I did not anticipate weeping over a city, but I sure did as I landed in Rome. Recently, I stole away to my favorite place in the entire world, Assisi, and after 2 weeks of walking those dreamy medieval streets and talking with my spiritual director, St. Francis, I also wept as I said goodbye to my city on the hill.

There are certain places that have a sacredness to them that just get under your skin and into the depth of your soul. Everyone has their special place where they feel whole. Weeping over a place is not a foreign concept to me, so in today’s gospel when Jesus approaches Jerusalem and it says he wept over the city, I totally get it.

His triumphal entry had just happened complete with palm branches in the street, Hosanna’s, autographs, selfies with the King, celebration, thanksgiving, a real Messiah on the red carpet welcome! He stopped to ponder what was about to happen. These same “fans” would soon turn into “haters”, and their shouts would turn into spitting, and the palm branches to thorns on his head. We never do anticipate those that love us and cherish us and know us deep down inside, as a good-hearted person would turn around in a heartbeat and actively try to destroy our lives. That is the very reason why betrayal is so despicable, because it is one of those “never” statements. “My best friends would never do that to me” or “My Apostles would never leave my side if I were in trouble” or “My acquaintances love me and listen to my teachings and talks with open hearts and respect, they would never shout ‘CRUCIFY HIM!’” or “My best friend would never deny that he knows me…ever!” Betrayal is one of those “never” statements that we truly believe otherwise we would “never” really enter into any intimate relationships. That’s why it not only hurts on the outside like Jesus’ physical torment, or losing your job, or becoming ill from the stress, it wounds something in our very soul. We store these “never” statements in the core of our being, because if they weren’t in our core, they would be inauthentic and shallow. Relationships must have depth and intimacy in order to be real and so when we are betrayed in the core of our being, something in our soul is scarred for life. Grieving this kind of deep wound in the depth of our soul can only be done with supernatural grace and time.

Jesus knew this was happening to him, but his weeping also included what was going to happen to Jerusalem and its people in general. The Temple would be destroyed in 70AD and up until then Jews, Gentiles, and Christians would be persecuted, slandered, betrayed, brutally treated, murdered, destroyed, and this beautiful city that had been a sacred and holy place for so many of them would lose its center, its soul…their precious Temple. He wept for them. He knew that they were not really paying attention to the message and were perhaps a little caught up in his hype, popularity, and controversy (sounds like a certain presidential election that shall not be named). He was saddened that a lot of them had missed the heart of the matter.

This is a very good reminder for us to pay close attention to Christ’s message, which is always very clear, but we also get caught up in the drama, and hype, and minutia of religion. The message is, as our very Christ-like Pope Francis has strongly and PASSIONATELY encouraged us to practice radically: “I think we too are the people who, on the one hand, want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat others with, to condemn others. And Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think — and I say it with humility — that this is the Lord's most powerful message: mercy.” (Pope Francis) The name of God is MERCY. We must love deeply from the depth of our souls where the Spirit of God resides in each one of us no matter who we are or what we have done, and if we are acting in the name of God, then we are acting in the name of Mercy. Mercy is pardon for the guilty, rooted in our love for God and in God’s unconditional love for us, and it is the only way God deals with us. Get to the heart of the matter so our “temple” doesn’t get destroyed. Have a merciful day.

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Lectionary: 500

Reading 1 RV 5:1-10

I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.
It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice,
“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll or to examine it.
I shed many tears because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll or to examine it.
One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.
The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,
enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne
and the four living creatures and the elders
a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.
He had seven horns and seven eyes;
these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.
He came and received the scroll from the right hand
of the one who sat on the throne.
When he took it,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.
They sang a new hymn:

“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B

R. (Rev. 5:10) The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia PS 95:8

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”