Thursday 18 November 2021
Today is Thursday the 18 November, in the 33rd week of Ordinary time.
The Dunedin Consort sings Erbarme dich from Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
Erbarme dich, mein Gott, um meiner Zähren willen! Have mercy, my God, for the sake of my tears.
As you sit here now, what are the sorrows and pains you are carrying?
What is hurting or troubling you?
Right here, even here, God is present – a God of mercy, of compassion and love.
For a moment, place those troubles – and place yourself – in God’s loving hands.
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.
Luke 19:45-48
As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying,
“If you, even you, had only recognised on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognise the time of your visitation from God”.
People matter to Luke, he was a doctor and throughout his gospel he uses the word compassion many times. Today we are drawn to the heart of Jesus as he stands weeping for Jerusalem, we see God's boundless and passionate love for all mankind.
Stay with this image of Jesus weeping.
What does this stir in you?
What tears are in your heart?
Who do you need to show compassion to today… maybe its yourself?
As the passage is read again, reflect on somewhere in the world, where Jesus is calling you to show compassion.
St Teresa of Avila has written:
“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world.”
As you prepare to go into the world today, talk to God about how you might be Christ’s body, hands, feet and eyes…
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.