30th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 27th October 2022 — Gospel: Lk 13,31-35
God’s Yearning
By his lament over Jerusalem, Jesus expressed his desire to gather the people of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her brood. The architect Antonio Barluzzi built a church on the site where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, which is in the shape of a large teardrop. It is called Dominus Flevit (The Master wept). The mosaic on the altar that has been placed in front of a large window overlooking the ancient Jewish Temple mount is the image of a hen gathering her brood under her wings. Barluzzi’s expression of “stones cry out” (Lk 19,40) is a profound reality that God yearns for our love. In other words, Jesus wanted to offer his love and protection, but the people of Jerusalem refused and rejected him. However, God’s yearning is more intense than what a mother or father feels when a child goes astray, because God’s love is perfect. Jesus expressed God’s yearning when he said, “and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.” This is what God did by sending his Son to redeem us.
