In Jesus' moments of looking at the city of Jerusalem tears reveal something of his inner being. As he looked from his silence, he eventually said a few words that revealed a hurting soul: "If this day you only knew what makes for peace...." 'If you only knew': these words speak much about the heart of Jesus. The tears and the words are those of a broken heart. Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Why have you chosen violence? Why could you not have done more to give peace to the land and the people?

Silently watching and listening, we experience the pained heart of our God, a God of love. I cannot imagine how Jesus reacts as he looks upon our world today and its many places of combat and struggle.

"If you only knew." These are for us today words of invitation to address divisions that exist within the human family. You and I are called to respond to God's pain and tears. How? How can each of us respond? The words of the Alleluia verse are a bold answer. "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

'If you only knew.' This is the invitation to us to listen, to let silence lead us to "the pregnant possibility" of what can be born in and through our lives.

If we only knew the richness of the treasure awaiting us, we would take very opportunity to hear the voice of the Lord. Today he calls us, he calls nations to peace and justice. These are the guide posts to true life in Jesus Christ. These are the activities that are the results of silence with the Lord.