Monday in Holy Week
During Holy Week, Dom Gueranger retraces the steps of our Blessed Lord. A reflection on the account from the Gospel of St. Matthew follows.
This
morning, also, Jesus goes with his Disciples to Jerusalem. He is fasting, for
the Gospel tells us, that he was hungry. (Matt. 21:18) He approaches a
fig-tree, which is by the wayside; but finds nothing on it, save leaves. Jesus,
wishing to give us an instruction, curses the fig-tree, which immediately
withers away. He would hereby teach us what they are to expect, who have
nothing but good desires, and never produce in themselves the fruit of a real
conversion. Nor is the allusion to Jerusalem less evident. This City is zealous
for the exterior of Divine Worship; but her heart is hard and obstinate, and
she is plotting, at this very hour, the death of the Son of God. The greater
portion of the day is spent in the Temple, where Jesus holds long conversations
with the Chief Priests and Ancients of the people. His language to them is
stronger than ever, and triumphs over all their captious questions. It is
principally in the Gospel of St. Matthew, (Chapters 21-23) that we shall find
these answers of our Redeemer, which so energetically accuse the Jews of their
sin of rejecting the Messias, and so plainly foretell the punishment their sin
is to bring after it.
At length,
Jesus leaves the Temple, and takes the road that leads to Bethania. Having come
as far as Mount Olivet, which commands a view of Jerusalem, he sits down, and
rests awhile. The Disciples make this an opportunity for asking him, how soon
the chastisements he has been speaking of in the Temple will come upon the
City. His answer comprises two events: the destruction of Jerusalem, and the
final destruction of the world. He thus teaches them that the first is a figure
of the second. The time when each is to happen, is to be when the measure of
iniquity is filled up. But, with regard to the chastisement that is to befall
Jerusalem, he gives this more definite answer: Amen I say to you: this
generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. (Matt 24:34) History
tells us how this prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled: forty years had scarcely
elapsed after his Ascension, when the Roman army encamped on this very place
where he is now speaking to his Disciples, and laid siege to the ungrateful and
wicked City. After giving a prophetic description of that Last Judgment, which
is to rectify all the unjust judgments of men, he leaves Mount Olivet, returns
to Bethania, and consoles the anxious heart of his most holy Mother.
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