In today's Gospel, the tears of Jesus were not for his death that awaited him but the sad plight of the city that rejected its King and God's agent of peace. This is the prophetic pronouncement about the fate of Jerusalem. Jesus' lament expressed the deepest sympathy and state of suffering of the heart of Jesus .

Meditating on this reading helps us to feel sad for the present state of the world where there is so much of destruction of humankind with cruelty and exploitation.

Yet in the first reading (Rev.5:1-10), we see how the 'lamb' which symbolizes a victorious military leader who had come to power through his death. The 'horn' is an ancient Jewish symbol for power and strength too. In v.9, there is the 'new song' that celebrated a new act of divine deliverance or blessing.

The sacrificial death of Jesus is central in the NT teachings and revelation of God's unconditional love for us. Just as Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, Jesus would have felt the same as He sees what is happening around the world today even within the Church.

We are called to repent and be grateful to the saving act of love of Jesus. In response we continue to strive to be Jesus' witnesses of the truth and love.