The gospel for Thursday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 19:41, 44. As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, if this day you only knew what makes for peace. But now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you. They will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you.

And they will not leave one stone upon another within you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation. We see in this reading an image of corruption. It often involves closing off the truth and being engaged with people who believe in the lie. And that’s a perfect image, I think, of what happens to institutions, what happens to places that will not open themselves to the grace and the mercy and the forgiveness of God. It’s a dangerous place to be shut off and. And refuse to hear the truth.

After the music, I will close with a prayer. Foreign. Closing prayer. Father, keep us close to you. Keep us engaged with you. It’s so frightening when we choose to isolate ourselves from your wisdom.

It is death. It is destruction. Protect us, Lord, from that. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.