"If this day you only knew what makes for peace"

The words our Lord speaks to Jerusalem in today’s Gospel (Luke 19:41-44) he speaks also to us.

If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.

For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.

They will smash you to the ground
and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.

What makes for peace is fully recognizing and embracing Christ.

Bad things happen in life, no matter what we do, but if we are united with Christ as we go through life in this world, then we have a deep peace that nothing in the world can take away.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.