Optional Memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin

 Lectionary 449

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes."

Isaiah prophesied the blindness of Jerusalem,

And he replied: Go and say to this people:

Listen carefully, but do not understand!

Look intently, but do not perceive!

Make the heart of this people sluggish,

dull their ears and close their eyes;

Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,

and their heart understand,

and they turn and be healed.

 

Saint John’s gospel (chapter 12) also recalls Isaiah’s dire prophecy:

Although he had performed so many signs in their presence they did not believe in him, in order that the word which Isaiah the prophet spoke might be fulfilled…:

“He blinded their eyes

and hardened their heart,

so that they might not see with their eyes

and understand with their heart and be converted,

and I would heal them.”

 

Jesus explains in Saint Mark’s gospel why they don’t understand his parables:

He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that

‘…they may look and see but not perceive,

and hear and listen but not understand,

in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’”

 

Our sacred scriptures despise idols like Luck, Fate, or Serendipity; nothing happens that God does not do. Not much happens that does not have meaning. 

The obtuse blindness of Jesus's enemies, in particular, is a sign of God’s punishing hand. But it’s a blindness they have brought upon themselves. They have been blessed with the light of wisdom but they ignore the way that was revealed to them and go their own way.

Twenty centuries later, it doesn’t take much imagination to see people acting blindly and stupidly despite the truth that confronts them like an oncoming train. As the wise one said, “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”

The Lord's response to their blindness, however, should give us pause. Voices often get louder in an argument when people suppose their opponents don't see the obvious. They get angry and their expressions get personal, supposing that the others are stupid, stubborn, or downright evil. 

Jesus wept. As partisan politics continues to grow ever more intense, bitter, and irrational, as proffered compromises are met with suspicion, and partisans reach for their weapons, Jesus's disciples weep with him. We cannot hate our opponents any more than Jesus would. Even as we cannot imagine why agreement over the Truth is so difficult, we pray with human compassion for our enemies.