Apocalypse 5:1-10 / Luke 19:41-44
In the year 70 AD, the city of Jerusalem was captured after a long siege and destroyed by the Roman army, and the Temple which took 46 years to build was razed to the ground.
Needless to say, the revolting Jews were slaughtered and the rest of the survivors were deported. It was certainly a great tragedy for the Chosen People of God.
Yet it was not the first time that it had happened. Back in the 586 BC, the city was captured by the Babylonians and the grand Temple of Solomon was razed to the ground and the inhabitants were deported to Babylon.
We can't help asking "What was wrong? Why must this happen to the People of God?"
The key to that question lies in what Jesus said today - if only the message of peace is understood. Yet it seemed to be hidden from the eyes of the people and Jesus even shed tears over this.
But the symbols given in the 1st reading are certainly not hidden from our eyes - the 7 horns symbolize the fullness of power; the 7 eyes symbolize knowledge and wisdom and the four prostrating animals represent the cherubim, the spectacular angelic beings who surround the throne of
God.
Yet the most prominent figure is the Lamb that was slain, the Lamb that was worthy to take the scroll and break the seals, because the Lamb was sacrificed and by its blood bought men for God.
There is no doubt that the Lamb is Jesus who was crucified and by His precious blood He has saved us.
So the message of salvation is given to us and it is a message that is brought to us by the blood of Jesus on the cross.
Let us heed this message of salvation. The alternative will be the tears of destruction and it will cost us our blood.