IF I FORGET YOU JERUSALEM

FRIDAY, TWELVETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

2 Kings 25:1-12; Ps 137:1-6; Mt 8:1-4

Death of a Soul without God

The enemies besiege and conquer the city of God within us when we dwell in ignorance of what lies within us, the heavenly and spiritual riches with which God the Father has endowed our inner castle, which He built for the Only Begotten Son, the Eternal Word. There is nothing outside that suffices for the defence of the eternal city we carry within us; its defence lies within, in the name of the Lord our God. The interior city of God is kept safe only by the indwelling of the Eternal Word within us. Just as the Incarnation of the Son of God saved human nature objectively, his entrance into our interior, where he takes possession of his city therein, safeguarding it from enemies without. Late was the cry of Judaeans: “O how could we sing the song of the Lord on alien soil? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my righthand wither!” The woes befell them because they failed to sing the praises of God sincerely in Jerusalem; they failed to make the Law and the Prophets their rule of life. They were not mindful of God, who is their mainstay, and filled their minds and hearts with creatures. They serve as a lesson for us who are called in these latter days to communion with God.  

Many Christians believe that the Christian struggle against inimical forces is momentary or short-lived. They are mistaken on this, for the whole of Christian life is a continuous struggle and battle with the sinful self, the world, and its prince, the devil. As we have noted already, there is no other way of defending the eternal city within us other than building our lives on the word of God. The Lord described our act of living on his words as building on a solid rock. Listening and doing half is not enough; such half-hearted commitment would cause a breach in the protective wall of the city. The enemies would explore this weakness to penetrate the city and destroy it. To stand on the evil day, we must put on the whole armour of God and keep fighting on all fronts.  

This was the case with King Zedekiah, who was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar after he exiled his nephew, King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. Zedekiah failed to conform to the demands of Nebuchadnezzar and to God, who punished Jerusalem for her sins by placing her under the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar came back to destroy the temple and the city. “The latter carried off all the treasures of the Temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace, and broke up all the golden furnishings that Solomon king of Israel had made for the sanctuary of the Lord, as the Lord had foretold.” When the glory of the Lord has receded from us because of sins against His divine Majesty, we must humbly submit to the working of his divine justice and implore His infinite mercy on ourselves and others. He will grant us grace to suffer his just sentence and restore us to our eternal homeland of heaven at the due time. We see this divine willingness to redeem in his treatment of the leper who came to him. “A leper now came up and bowed low in front of him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ and his leprosy was cured at once.” Many times, we will fall under the assault of the forces of evil due to distractions. The Lord is always willing to save us; we must patiently implore his mercy.

Let us pray: Grant, O Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name, for you never deprive of your guidance those you set firm on the foundation of your love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.