Holy Week Begins with Tears

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Luke 19:41-44

Sunday we talked about congruence as aligning your feelings, thoughts and actions. Too often, as we saw in the story of Joseph yesterday, we are not very aligned. We feel one way but act another (that's the essence of being passive aggressive - you're actually angry but you are saying things that suggest you aren't). 

Jesus is remarkably congruent. He freely weeps because of his sadness over Jerusalem's unwillingness to turn towards him. His thoughts are very much the same, and he says as much - that they are missing out on a great rescue and he's so disappointed by that. And his actions line up as well - in his grief, he still moves towards Jerusalem, riding in on a donkey in great humility and love.

In the Christian year, this week is called Holy Week. It starts off with Jesus heading into Jerusalem in sadness, preparing to die in order to enable people to know the lengths to which God is willing to enter into their pain and lostness. Take a few moments to read over the bible passage above again, asking Jesus what he might be wanting to say to you today through it.