ACC ~ Luke 19 v41 - 44

JESUS FULFILLS THE BEATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO WEEP

ORIGEN: When our Lord and Savior approached Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept. … By his example, Jesus confirms all the Beatitudes that he speaks in the Gospel. By his own witness, he confirms what he teaches. “Blessed are the meek,” he says. He says something similar to this of himself: “Learn from me, for I am meek.” “Blessed are the peacemakers.” What other man brought as much peace as my Lord Jesus, who “is our peace,” who “dissolves hostility” and “destroys it in his own flesh”? [1] “Blessed are those who suffer persecution because of justice.”

No one suffered such persecution because of justice as did the Lord Jesus, who was crucified for our sins. The Lord therefore exhibited all the Beatitudes in himself. For the sake of this likeness, he wept, because of what he said, “Blessed are those who weep,” to lay the foundations for this beatitude as well. He wept for Jerusalem “and said, ‘If only you had known on that day what meant peace for you! But now it is hidden from your eyes,’” and the rest, to the point where he says, “Because you did not know the time of your visitation.” HOMILY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 38.1-2. [2]

[1] :1–24:53 PRELIMINARY REMARKS | ON THE GOSPEL

[2] FC 94:156-57**.

LUKE RECORDS JESUS’ PROPHECIES ABOUT JERUSALEM’S DESTRUCTION

EUSEBIUS: These things took place in this way in the second year of the reign of Vespasian in agreement with the prophetic pronouncements of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By divine power, he foresaw these events as if already present and wept over them and mourned, according to the writings of the holy Evangelists. They add his own words, when on one occasion he spoke as if to Jerusalem itself. “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! Now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation.” On another occasion, as if concerning the people, he said, “There will be great distress in the land and wrath on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captives into all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the nations be fulfilled.” [1] Again he says, “When you shall see Jerusalem encircled by an army, then know that its desolation is near.” [2] If one should compare the words of our Savior with the other narratives of the historian, how could he help but marvel and confess the truly divine and supernaturally wonderful foreknowledge and prophecy of our Savior? ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 3.7. [3]

[1] Lk 21:23-24.

[2] Lk 21:20.

[3] FC 19:153-54*.