Recognizing Jesus

October 27, Thursday, 30th Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Ephesians 6:10-20; Gospel Luke 13:31-35

Once, a believer who considered the bible a great treasure, holding his well-decorated bible close to his heart, went to Tillich and asked. Do you think this Bible can save me? Tillich replied, "It is not when you hold the bible close to your heart that you will be saved, but when what is within the bible holds you close, that you can be saved."  Walking with Jesus may not transform us. Only when the person and the teachings of Jesus touch us can we be saved.

In the gospel, according to Saint Luke, chapter 13, verses 31 onwards, the Pharisees tell Jesus to get away because Herod wanted to kill him.  It's hard to tell if their warning is sincere or a real threat. Jesus uses the threat to make clear the nature of his upcoming death as a part of his mission. Jesus is going to die, but it will have nothing to do with the threat of Herod. Instead, his death is the completion of his present ministry. Casting out demons is a part of Jesus' ministry and establishing God's kingdom. Performing cures is also a part of the mission of Jesus.

Although Jesus brought salvation to his people, Herod, the Pharisees, and some of the people were not moved by the ministry of Jesus. Jesus thus denounces such an attitude with compassion. He mourns over Jerusalem, the city that denounced the prophets, but he also longs to shelter the children of Israel, like a mother hen that gathers her brood.

The question is whether we have recognized God’s messages and kingdom, or are we like Herod, the Pharisees, and the Jews who did not recognize the presence of God among them?

Let us open our eyes to see the great things he has done in Jerusalem.