The second reading today is a poignant text unique to Luke's Gospel. Jesus, God's agent of peace, "wept" while gazing at Jerusalem - city of peace, whose religious leaders rejected Him, the bringer of peace. He echoed the Old Testament's suffering prophets like Moses, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Hosea. At this moment in time, Jesus was caught up in their rate, anguish, frustration and sorrow over Israel.

Jesus' great love for Jerusalem (Lk.9:51; 13:34-35; 19:41) could only be grasped in retrospect by His anguish when He would leave it only to die. The religious leaders repeated their forebearers' mistake with severe consequences (Lk. 19:40,44). The dramatic downfall of Jerusalem would actually happen (AD 70) for these leaders had not recognized the significant hour of God's visitation (Ps. 95:8-11). However, "the Lion of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed and he will open the scroll ¡K" Jesus has become the cornerstone of our faith and the guarantee of our eternity (Rev. 5:10). We who have inherited the Scriptures and believe in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are invited to welcome God's visitation in our life daily, through fidelity and love in His service.