According to our beloved Abbot Gueranger:
'As the God-Man had said, the terrible day came suddenly, and as a snare, upon this immense assemblage of people. The empire(Roman) was in the hands of Vespasian; the prosperous fortune of Rome was re-established on the whole of the frontiers; and Titus had just reached Caesarea, with orders to put an end to the eastern question. He sent word to the legions then in Judea to effect, from the respective points they occupied, a joint concentration towards the capital. When the tenth legion marched from Jericho and was seen encamped on Mount Olivet--that is, on the very place where Jesus wept as He looked on Jerusalem, and foretold the siege which was to be its ruin--the unexpected arrival of the Romans alarmed the pilgrims, and made them busy themselves with preparations for a battle, rather than for the solemnization of the Pasch(which was nearing). the several parties agreed to forget, at least for a day, their own animosities, and unite all their forces together; they made two desperate sallies, for the purpose of dislodging the enemy form the Mount; but each time they were repelled.
The Pasch which is about to be celebrated is, as ever, and now more than ever, the Passover of the Lord; but the Lord is no longer leading the sons of Jacob to their deliverance by it. Juda has made himself the enemy of the Lamb, whose Blood should be the sign of the redeemed of the Pasch. Whilst the Blood of this divine Lamb is enriching the whole earth, whilst the light of the vanquisher of death is illumining the whole world, Juda is there, obstinately keeping to his figures and shadows. More stiff-necked than the Egyptian, and more guilty than Pharoah, he would, if he could, hold the true Israel in the trammels of his own slavish law, just as he once vainly tried to make the true Son of God an everlasting prisoner in the tomb. As to Jesus, He has, years ago, set Himself free; and now, more terrible than He was in Mesraim, He is passing over, as the avenger both of Himself and of His Church. The Pasch--the feast of feasts, whose memory is every Sunday brought back to us--is now about to receive its final completion. On the Tuesday of our Easter, we were saying: "How terrible will be the passage of the Lord over Jerusalem, when the sword of the Roman legions shall destroy a whole people!"'
This is pure and simple history. When Jesus died on the Cross, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. (Keep in mind that this veil was approximately 40ft. high). At that moment, the old system of the Old Testament was over, with the new to take over. The obstinate Jews refused to believe in God becoming man, and thus, refused all of His teachings, along with the continued teachings of His Apostles. The high priests had said: "Let it be on our heads and on the heads of our grandchildren." (Okay, have it your way. Good luck with that!)
On a side note, we here in our diocese had a bishop who had the kids receiving Holy Communion in 2nd grade, and then, 2 years later, receiving 'First Confession', which is 'bass ackwards'. When asked by believers to please change the order, he promptly said: "Let is be on my head." What a dope! Well, he has since passed on. I wonder how that thought progression went for him!?
Anyway, Jesus wept over Jerusalem, and also told them that they had made His temple into a den of thieves. The way I see it, considering what has happened to the Church in the past 60+ years, that they have discarded the Faith, instead of selling it. BEWARE of the wolves who are dressed in sheep's clothing! Some might be dressed in cassocks, or wearing birettas!
On an end note, keep this in mind. This comes from the Epistle for this Sunday; St. Paul writes to the Corinthians:
'Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall. Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human: and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able but will make also with temptation issue that you may be able to bear it.'
Therefore, what we experience now is a test sent by the Father. He knows how strong or weak we are, and He tests us, sometimes to the limit. So, this is where we find out just how strong our Faith really is. KEEP THE FAITH, BABY!
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