Our Own Jerusalem

 In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

First Letter of Saint Peter
Brothers and sisters, you know that God rescued you from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors—not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, the spotless and unblemished Lamb. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but for your sake was revealed in these final times.

Through Christ, you have come to believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and filled Him with glory, so that your faith and hope might rest in God.

Therefore, having purified yourselves through obedience to the truth that leads to sincere love of your brothers and sisters, love one another deeply and from the heart. For you have been born anew—not from perishable seed, but imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

For:

“All flesh is like grass,
and all its beauty like the flower of the field.
The grass withers and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.

The Word of God.

Holy Gospel According to Mark
At that time, Jesus and His disciples were on the road to Jerusalem, and Jesus walked ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, and the people following Him were afraid.

Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them what would happen to Him:

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn Him to death and hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, spit on Him, scourge Him, and kill Him. But on the third day, He will rise again.”

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

He replied, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your glory.”

Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

They replied, “We can.”

Jesus said, “You will indeed drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant; it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared.”

When the other ten apostles heard this, they became indignant with James and John.

Jesus gathered them together and said:

“You know that those considered rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority felt. But it shall not be so among you. Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Reflection

    This Gospel contains several important lessons for us.

Going To Jerusalem
    Jesus takes His disciples aside and explains that He is, "...going to Jerusalem." I do not believe we came into this world simply to suffer, but we must recognize that in this world we will face trials. That is our "Jerusalem."
    It is neither healthy nor truly Christian to say that life is nothing but hardship and problems. Yet it is very important to prepare ourselves for difficult moments. Tribulations are inevitable. Suffering, in many ways, becomes a choice in how we respond. 
    Today in the Gospel, Jesus says, “I am going to Jerusalem, and I will suffer.”

    Each of us has a “Jerusalem”—a place of salvation, but also a place of suffering. Jerusalem was both... you don't get the one witout the other. But - it is also the place where God is glorified.
    Jerusalem is not only where the risen Christ is encountered, as the Acts of the Apostles teach us. Jerusalem is also the place where we must bear witness, where we must give of ourselves and suffer for the sake of truth.

"This is my Jerusalem"
    You occasionally hear people say, "...thats my Jerusalem."
Its an older expression you don't encounter much these days.
But "Jerusalems" come in many forms....
 
- It may be in your church community.
- It may be fellow Christians that are of other faiths.
- It may be at our job.
- It may be in our own familes.

    Regardless, these "Jerusalem's" are where we are called to patience, love, prayer, and self-control—even if we face are facing criticism, misunderstandings, or humiliation.
    These 'Jerusalems' are calling us to generosity, solidarity, and service, even when others fail to appreciate us, speak badly of us, or contribute little in return.
    But if we understand what we are walking into, we can go there with love. That is the cup we must drink.

The Cup of Suffering
    This is another expression that used to be common, but which isn't heard much these days... "the cup of suffering." This is also known as the, "Theology of Suffering." But it is downplayed, and even tossed aside, in many Christian group,s today...for the unreal expectation that God is to only give us good things.
    So what is the cup of bitterness? What is the cup of suffering? It is every experience, every place, and every person that tests our faith in God and our patience.
    Some people come into our lives not to bring out the worst in us, but the best. However, our best version does not emerge in easy moments. It is most often revealed in suffering, in trials and difficulties.
    One day, after a ministry, church service, or season of responsibility, we may say:
    "This experience changed me. It drew out the best in me. I suffered, I had to be patient, I had to wait, endure, and serve—but it made me better.”
    THAT is Jerusalem.

Welcome Jerusalem, but...
    Even illness can become our Jerusalem—not because God wants to punish us, but because it can draw out our best qualities: patience, faith, hope, love, and self-giving.
    Every painful event in life — every burden you carry — call it "My Jerusalem."
    And when you call it 'Jerusalem,' learn to say:

"This is where the best version of me can emerge.”

    At the same time, the Gospel ends with an important warning: Do Not Oppress Others.

Don't Be A Burden   
    Most people want good leaders, good governments, and good people in authority. Yet not one of us is perfect. Sometimes we say, “Lord, give us a good president,” and perhaps the Lord replies, “I would like that, too — but whom among you is just that good? Who shall I choose?”
    The real struggle is not merely wishing that we are given good people — it is becoming good ourselves, so that God can use us.
    Rather than standing on your side of the fence, judging everyone else, it is better to remain humble. After all, Life has a way of placing us on the other side, where we discover things are not so simple...not as we may think.
    That is why judgment is dangerous: eventually, our turn comes.
    So do not judge, do not attempt to dominate, do not enslave others with shackles of your making. Instead, help make another person’s, "Jerusalem," lighter.
    Because everyone has their own Jerusalem.
    If I know the burden my brother, friend, or family member carries, I should try not to make it heavier with my opinions, admonishments, or demands. Life is already heavy enough. Jesus said to love as he loved; He placed this at number one and number two among His commands.
    So take courage, and face your Jerusalem with faith, hope, and charity.

    May the Lord bless us this day and grant us the grace to journey toward Jerusalem with joy and love, persevering in becoming the best version of ourselves — and helping those we meet along the way who are also walking toward their own Jerusalem.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

May the Lord be with you, and may the blessing of Almighty God — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — descend upon you and remain with you always.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

- Fr. Robinson Gonzales

Translated and edited from an original Spanish broadcast at OxiEspiritual....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n__QJbWY69I