Will history repeat itself?
Luke 19:41–44. Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.
On his way to Golgotha, the daughters of Jerusalem wept for Jesus, but he told them to weep for themselves and their children (Luke 23:28). The description of the siege of Jerusalem is terrifying. The Jewish historian, Josephus tells us about terrible famine in the city, entire families dying of hunger, and the Romans without mercy putting to the sword those still alive. And yet it could be prevented if only the Jews listened to Jesus’ warning.
The tragedy of Jerusalem in the year 70 AD brings to mind the tragedy of Jerusalem in the year 586 BC. There, the prophet Jeremiah pleaded with his people to repent of their sins and not to rebel against the Babylonians. In the Gospel, it was Jesus telling his people to repent and not to rebel against the Romans. Mark Twain said that “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes”, but in this case, history repeated itself and the question is why? What makes us so stubborn? Why can’t we recognise God’s visitation?
God’s visitation comes at first in the form of a call: “repent and believe in the Gospel”. Then, it comes in the form of a warning: “The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt 3:10). Finally, if neither the call nor the warning is heeded, we have to bear the consequences of our decisions. And seeing that we are heading in the wrong direction, disregarding his message, Jesus weeps with tears of love and grief.
At the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, we are told that one of the many purposes of Jesus’ coming has been “to direct our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79). The Jewish historian, Josephus tells us that Titus, the general of the Roman army that surrounded Jerusalem in the year 70 AD offered peace and amnesty to the Jews in the city. They only needed to open the gates of Jerusalem and surrender themselves to the Romans. But the Zealots who were in charge of the city rejected that offer and punished those among their people who wanted to accept that offer of peace.
How about us? A Latin proverb says that history is life’s teacher. Will we learn from the tragic example of Jerusalem and allow Jesus to lead us to the way of peace? Peace with God and other people? Or will history tragically repeat itself, this time in our lives and with much more tragic consequences?