October 7, 2026
As [Jesus] came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19: 41-42
When I was in college, I had a professor for two courses, History of Sea Power and History of Air Power. Unsurprisingly, it was taught by a retired Air Force officer and many ROTC kids attended. He was actually an alum of our college, and so, when he talked about adversarial countries attacking us, he’d usually use our school rival and their campus as the example. As college students, we thought it was funny. I don’t any more. Some years ago, an immigrant friend pointed out that most of us in the US hear overhead explosions, especially in July and January and assume it’s safe, definitely fireworks. We never brace for impact or run to the windows. We live in a place where we take peace for granted. Every helicopter and plane is peaceful, or at least it’s ours.
The world is no more violent than it has ever been, according to various studies, but we are all more aware of the places of conflict and war, even if it’s back of mind. The US is almost always in armed conflict somewhere. We take our peace for granted - our security. It should be shocking to us when someone jokes about violence and attacks on an entire city. If it isn’t, we have not only failed to hold out hope for our global neighbors, but for our fellow citizens. It harkens to the story of Jesus preparing for the week of personal violence as he overlooked the holy city.
The passage is a reminder that as we go about our daily lives with our acceptance of conflict, war, and violence among us and far away, we have lost some of our humanity, maybe most. The proper reaction to violence and war is to weep. Jesus wept openly. And the reason was our human resistance to peace. As believers, we are called to be peacemakers. Sometimes that’s brokering an end to conflict, sometimes withholding the means to make war, sometimes refusing to retaliate or not to negotiate, and sometimes as simple as refusing to laugh at a joke about violence. On what hilltop do we find Christ weeping today? How will you be a peacemaker this week?
Prayer
Lord, help me to seek where you are weeping and to be a peacemaker in your name. Amen.
Rev. Brian Daoust
Associate Pastor for Mission & Youth
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