FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 2:1-5.10-11a)
“I come and I will dwell in the midst of you.”
I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth and what is its length.” And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him, and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and cattle in it. For I will be to her a wall of fire round about, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within her.’ “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for behold, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the Lord. And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Jeremiah31:10.11-l2ab.13 (R. see 10d)
R/. The Lord will keep us, as a shepherd keeps his flock.
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the islands afar off;
say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.” R/.
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
And has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Sion,
And they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord. R/.
Then shall the maidens rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. R/.
ALLELUIA 2Timothy 1:10
Alleluia. Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 9:43b-45)
“The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men. They were afraid to ask him about this saying.”
At that time: While all were marveling at everything Jesus did, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Death is a reality we would not like to think of or discuss about, because for most of us it is a frightening truth. Human as we are, we find ourselves unprepared and attached to the things of this world. For Jesus, death is a means to win salvation for the whole world. He is ready and willing to die as expiation for our sins. It is difficult for his disciples to accept this teaching. Their idea of a saviour is different from someone who would be ‘delivered into the hands of men’ and be subjected to a cruel death. But we know it is through his death and resurrection that we have our salvation. Death brings life. And christ’s death brings abundant and eternal life.