Many People Drawn to Jerusalem!

 

26th Week Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Year One

Zech 8:20-23

Many People Drawn to Jerusalem!

Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, the inhabitants of many cities;  the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Come, let us go to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.”  Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from nations of every language shall take hold of a Jew, grasping his garment and saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”(Zech 8:20-23).

Meditation

Zechariah is the son of Berechiah the son of Iddo. He was a post-exile prophet who has visions of the life of Israel.  The young and old, men and women, will sit in the city squares and chat and play. Good days will come back. All people of God will be brought back to the city of Jerusalem. There will be peace and joy, the Lord will take care of them. Lord tells them through prophet not be afraid. He tells them not plot evil against one another but love one another help one another. Jerusalem will be a city of centre and place of blessing to all.

Do we believe that Jerusalem is a place of blessing and Salvation?

Year Two

Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23

Do We Question Our Existence?

Job in a state of profound despair. He’s not just sad or grieving—he's devastated to the point of wishing he had never existed. This is important because it shows that the Bible does not shy away from human suffering. It gives voice to real, honest pain, even when that pain questions the very value of life. Job doesn’t curse God—he curses the day he was born. This distinction matters. It shows a man still holding on to his reverence for God, but overwhelmed by suffering to the point of existential crisis.

The text reminds us that it’s okay to bring our honest questions and anguish to God. Job’s words are not tidy, polished prayers—they’re raw, painful, even scandalous. Yet they are in the Bible, preserved as part of a sacred text. That tells us something: faith doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. Sometimes, faith looks like crying out in confusion, feeling abandoned, and still directing that cry toward God.

Is it okay to express our anguish to God?

Lk 9:51-56

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.  And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”  But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village (Lk 9:51-56).

The Samaritans did not welcome Jesus because his face was set to go to Jerusalem. At this juncture James and John wanted to bring fir on them but  the Lord rebuked James and John and went to another village.  At times when we are not accepted and welcomed, we would react, out of anger and fury. The Lord tells us and shows the path to walk away from such a situation, without any ill feeling or anger. It is really grace, to turn away from such people and situation without any bad temper but with real calm and magnanimity.

Do I turn away from the unwelcoming situations in life with clam and peace?

Fr Putti Anthaiah, sdb