Day 2: With Jesus as He Weeps over Jerusalem
Take a moment to quiet yourself: close your eyes and take some deep breaths.
Pray this prayer or something similar in your own words: Jesus, help me draw close to you by seeing my suffering in yours and your suffering in mine.
Today we walk with Jesus as he mourns the rejection of God's kingdom by his own people, the people he loves, called "Jerusalem." Luke describes two moments of Jesus' mourning: one during his ministry as he tries to help religious leaders understand who he is, and one as he approaches Jerusalem in the week of his death.
As you read the passages the first time, try to sense what Jesus is concerned about. Why is he upset? What are the people doing or failing to do? How does Jesus respond?
As you read them again, imagine you are with Jesus. Become part of each scene, imagining the sights, sounds, and smells. Who else is there? What is his voice like: whispering, pleading, shouting, resigned? What expressions do you see on his face, and do they change between scenes?
As you close this time of imaginative prayer, talk with Jesus about what it brought up for you.
Reflection Questions
Personal reflection:
What is it like for you to watch Jesus express his grief in these moments? As you stay with him in these scenes, how do you find yourself wanting to respond to him?
Community discussion:
Jesus weeps over people he loves who seem unable to see the truth. Do your own experiences resonate with his grief here, and if so, how?