Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
There are some strong emotions in today’s readings, and it’s not the reader’s feelings I’m talking about. The first reading (1 Maccabees 2:15-29) tells the story of Mattathias' and his sons’ refusal to succumb to the attacks on their Jewish faith and pressure to obey the king’s commands against their religion. Mattathias, in his zealousness for God’s law, ends up killing the king’s messenger who was forcing Jews to sacrifice and another Jew who was obeying the king. “His heart was moved and his just fury was aroused.” (This killing was justified by the Jewish law and showed his great zeal for the law.) He then led his sons and all who stood by God’s covenant out of the city and up into the mountains to “live according to righteousness....” So, here was a righteous, law-abiding man who stayed true to God’s covenant even amid persecution. (If the killing is a problem for you, don’t worry; we’ll come back to that later.)
In the gospel reading today (Luke 19: 41-44), Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem with his disciples who, we are told in the previous passage, had just been joyfully praising God. Luke tells us that as they drew near Jerusalem Jesus saw the city, “and wept over it.” Jesus was not just shedding a few tears. He wept. The translation is coming from the Greek word for “registering very strong emotion” as in great anguish or mourning for the dead.
And why did he weep? Because he knew that Jerusalem would not accept him, the one who mediates peace, and his message of justice and peace, but would become the victim of great devastation.
In Luke’s gospel this was the first time that Jesus was returning to Jerusalem since his preaching in the temple as a twelve-year-old boy, and now he knows they will not accept him and he weeps for them. How beautiful that we have a compassionate God who became one of us and experienced the same human emotions that we experience. And that Jesus longs for all people to accept Him and his message of peace and justice.
So, back to the first reading, how do we make sense of this zealous killing by a righteous man? Well, we need to keep in mind that Maccabees is an Old Testament book and so it was written prior to Jesus’ entrance into the world. Jesus made a new covenant and brings a message of peace and life for all people. He even takes the commandment “thou shall not kill” a step further with “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus turned the world upside down with his message of love and peace and forgiveness.
And Jesus experienced strong feelings just like us. He knows what it’s like to be angry, in grief, disappointed, or full of joy. So, turn to Him in your anger, your sorrow, your fear, your joy. Isn’t that how we really get to know someone? By sharing our feelings with them – the laughter, the tears, the hurt and disappointment, and sometimes the honest anger? Go to Jesus with whatever you’re feeling and let Jesus get to know you more. You will find yourself closer to God.
- Eileen Miller