+ There is a very powerful image used in scriptures and in other literary works that speak of “restoring someone’s fortune” that had been lost or taken from them.
Jerusalem, in particular, was in a sad state as its fortunes, its temple, and the riches of the temple, had been plundered and taken from them, then destroyed, and the people forced into exile.
And, of course, the cause was presumed to be that they had fallen into sin and unfaithfulness in their relationship with God.
They broke their covenant with God; yet, according to God’s word, he remained always, always faithful to his covenant with them.
This familiar theme is played out in dramatic language in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah.
And today, even more dramatically in this vision that Zechariah has as the city, not yet reconstructed, and the temple foundation, just barely finished or at least in progress toward the eventual restoration, is being realized.
All are encouraged to “pick up the pace,” and fulfill what God has promised; and is now beginning to happen.
As this reconstruction is happening in the first reading, the exact opposite is happening in the Gospel.
Jesus begins to foretell that in that very same Jerusalem, he is about to be “handed over to men.”
And though revealed to them, they really did not understand what he meant nor decipher what was about to happen.
Who could? And why? And could this really be true?
And as Jesus was describing “in plain sight” what was to be, it was as if the meaning was intentionally hidden or at least that is how it seemed to be.
They just could not “get it.”
And soon enough what was being revealed would become true before their eyes.
Since we know the story and the ending of the story, we get the importance in Luke of Jesus’ “going to “Jerusalem.”
There in Jerusalem is where the most significant truths about Jesus and what he did were to become the “greatest story ever told.”
That story continues to reach into our souls today and reveals the love of the cross — a love without conditions and without limits.
As Jerusalem, in one story, is in the process of being restored to its former glory, in another story, Jerusalem is about to reveal the glory of the Son of man who will show love and forgiveness in the face of unspeakable hatred and crimes.
And that glory will have eternal meaning!
Somehow, just somehow, our human fortunes were being restored to us, and even more were about to become divine fortunes that would have eternal meaning and eternal consequence.
Father Perry Dean Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com.
