Daily Reflection, June 27, 2026

Reflection:

Today’s first reading from the book of Lamentations is a searing expression of grief and suffering.  It refers to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian empire in 587 B.C., and the deportation of many of its people to Babylon, ‘where we sat and wept, when we remembered Zion’ (Psalm 137.1)  For the Biblical writer, this destruction was understood to be divine punishment for Israel’s infidelity and idolatry.  A deepening understanding of our faith over the millennia has helped us to leave behind such conceptions of divine punishment: for us, the message of Lamentations is protest against death and destruction, the visceral revulsion against violence that desecrates the human person made in God’s image and likeness.  This is the protest that a number of recent Popes have voiced constantly and powerfully: No more war!  Psalm 73 expresses the preciousness of Zion and laments its destruction – in hope, it reminds the Lord of his bond with his own people of the covenant: ‘Remember your people whom you chose long ago…the mountain of Zion where you made your dwelling.’   Today’s Gospel (Mt 8:5-17) strengthens our faith in God’s care and compassion for every human person, since Jesus heals the servant of a Roman centurion, an officer of an occupying and oppressive power.  Jesus affirms that God’s love is universal, embracing Jews and Gentiles, including this Gentile soldier who had such faith in Jesus’ healing word.  It is universal, and also very close to home, as the reading concludes with Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law.      

Robert Gascoigne is a parishioner at St Brigid’s, Marrickville.  He is a theologian who taught for many years at the Australian Catholic University.