Thursday, November 19, 2026 — Thursday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem
Luke 19:41-44
The Gospel
Drawing near to Jerusalem and seeing the city, Jesus weeps over it: it did not recognize the things that make for peace, nor the time of its visitation. He foretells days when its enemies will surround it and level it, leaving no stone upon another, because it did not know the time of its visitation.
Readings of the day: First Reading: Revelation 5:1-10; Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a, 9b; Alleluia: Psalm 95:8; Gospel: Luke 19:41-44.
Reflection
Jesus draws near to Jerusalem and weeps over it. The city that was to be the place of peace does not know the things that belong to its peace, nor the time of its visitation. St. Cyril sees in those tears the compassion of Christ, who wills that all men should be saved; the tears are the mark of his humanity, and the proof that his sorrow is real. St. Gregory adds that our Redeemer does not cease to weep through his elect whenever he sees any depart from a good life to follow evil ways. The day of visitation is not only Jerusalem’s; it is ours, today, in every grace offered and every warning heard. Peace is offered now, while there is still time to receive it. To know the time of our visitation is to answer while the Lord is near, before the things that make for peace are hidden from our eyes.
From the Fathers
“For Christ had compassion upon the Jews, who wills that all men should be saved.”
— St. Cyril of Alexandria, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 19:41–44
“The merciful Redeemer wept then over the fall of the false city, which that city itself knew not was about to come upon it.”
— St. Gregory the Great, Homily 39 on the Gospels, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 19:41–44
Saint of the day
Saint Mechtilde of Helfta (1241–1298), Benedictine nun and mystic of the convent of Helfta in Saxony. Her visions and teachings were recorded by her friend Saint Gertrude in The Book of Special Grace. She died on November 19, 1298.
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Sources: the day’s readings follow the daily lectionary (USCCB, Lectionary 500). The Gospel text is not reproduced here; read it at the link above. Patristic quotes: Catena Aurea on Luke 19:41–44, compiled by St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by John Henry Newman (1841, public domain).