THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Her Doctrine and Morals

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

21 July 2024

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The Sunday

Sermon

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Dear Friends in Christ,

In today's Gospel reading (Saint Luke 19: 41-7), Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Jesus had preached in Jerusalem, but the people did not want to hear or believe Him. Knowing what must happen to these people and this city, He wept.

Because their hearts were not open to the graces of God, they were blinded to the evils they were bringing upon themselves. The enjoyment of the material blessings closed their eyes to the hidden punishments of their souls that were overshadowing them. If they had only opened their spiritual eyes, they would have seen, but they would not. Because they would not, their true peace and happiness were hidden from them. They were deceived by the momentary passing pleasures of this life and blind to the true happiness of their souls.

Because the things of this world are all passing away, the poor people in Jerusalem were to lose everything that they entrusted their happiness to. The material pleasures were taken away with the city — not one stone was left upon another. But the greatest tragedy was that in addition to the loss of the physical pleasures, they had already lost the spiritual happiness that was to be theirs and were not even aware of it.

Those who believed Jesus and fled Jerusalem, leaving behind anything and everything material that would hold them back, were spared. They escaped without material pleasures but with true spiritual happiness. History shows us the destruction of Jerusalem, which was frighteningly violent, especially for all who were of a materialistic or worldly mindset.

The compassion of God for sinners is seen in Jesus' tears for them. But thoughts, words, and tears are not enough for God. Jesus entered the Temple, cast out the buyers and sellers, and preached to the people, seeking their repentance and conversion. However, the greater the love Jesus manifested for them, the greater the hatred of the chief priests, the scribes, and the rulers of the people who sought to destroy Him.

These thoughts are presented to us today to draw us closer to Jesus. We, too, have been wept over by Jesus. As long as we cling to the things and pleasures of this world, we are blinded to the true spiritual happiness that is promised us or the physical and spiritual pain of loss that threatens us. We are at a crossroads where we must choose to either listen to Jesus and follow Him or listen to the world and follow it in its ultimate destruction. The world and the worldly who are in it will be judged by fire; destruction will come. If we truly understand and are conscious of these truths, we must spiritually flee from this worldliness or materialism.

How are we to do this? Jesus has made it abundantly clear. We must deny ourselves and take up our daily crosses to follow Him. If we would be perfect disciples of His, He wants us to go and sell all we have, give it to the poor, and follow Him. Only those who saw the signs and fled from Jerusalem, leaving behind their cloaks, material concerns, and their former way of life, were to survive. It took a great act of faith for the early Christians to do this, and we, too, are called upon to make just as great an act of faith in separating ourselves from the deadly attachments to the things of this earth.

I say attachment to the things of this earth, but this also includes our human relationships. We cannot put the love of parents, spouses, children, friends, etc., above our love for God. If we love any of these more than God, we are not worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, leaving us only with death, destruction, and eternal suffering.

Jesus weeps over us. He acts violently in our consciences to wake us up — helping us to cast out the buyers and sellers in our hearts, minds, and souls — that only belong to God. We are God's temples, and these worldly concerns are incompatible with the true worship and love we owe Him. He is teaching us daily if we care to hear Him. It is unpleasant to listen to Him because He stings our consciences with the reminder that there is no place for the love of the world and its pleasures in our souls (His Temple). But, if we hear Him and follow His teachings, we will escape the destruction and ultimately find complete and true happiness with Him in Heaven.

We are warned that in hearing and following Jesus, we are placed with Him in the crosshairs of those in worldly power. The chief priests, scribes, and rulers of the people sought to destroy Him. Those in worldly power are still seeking to destroy Him and His life in the hearts, minds, and souls of His true followers. When we love and choose Jesus, we become enemies of those in worldly or material power; when we love and choose the world and its fleeting pleasures, we become enemies of God.

The choice is only as painful and challenging as our attachment to the world and material pleasures. If we find it too hard or difficult to hear and follow Jesus, it is because we are already too blinded by the world, and this is what brings forth the tears of Jesus. May we allow Him to enter the Temple of our hearts, minds, and souls and cast out the buyers and sellers. May we begin to hear Him speak to us. May we prepare ourselves to be ready to leave this world and all it tempts us with at any moment.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspire, guide, and protect us!