September 25, 2021

Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 454

Reading I

Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a

I, Zechariah, raised my eyes and looked:
there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.
I asked, “Where are you going?”
He answered, “To measure Jerusalem,
to see how great is its width and how great its length.”

Then the angel who spoke with me advanced,
and another angel came out to meet him and said to him,
“Run, tell this to that young man:
People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country,
because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst.
But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD,
and I will be the glory in her midst.”

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD.
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day,
and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.

Responsorial Psalm

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

1.  (see 10d)  The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
   Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
       proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
   He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
       he guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.
   R.    The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
   The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
       he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
   Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
       they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.
   R.   The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
   Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
       and young men and old as well.
   I will turn their mourning into joy,
       I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
   R.    The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Alleluia

See 2 Tm 1:10

1. Alleluia, alleluia.
   Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
   and brought life to light through the Gospel.
   R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 9:43b-45

While they were all amazed at his every deed,
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Pay attention to what I am telling you.
The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 
But they did not understand this saying;
its meaning was hidden from them
so that they should not understand it,
and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Reflection: SUFFERING BRINGS GLORY

When Jesus was working wonders, he didn't seem to care about the number of miracles or to create a sensation or gain some mileage. He was not a politician who wouldn't miss an opportunity --- here was a chance to glory in the marvels he worked or to work up a fervor, to make himself an indispensable hero and some of the fringe benefits would go to the disciples too. But the Lord was strangely uninterested in such mileage. Not only that. His disciples too should not venture into some fool's paradise. These miracles were not the forerunners to some glorious kingdom or situation where the disciples could finally have their own little crowns and thrones. He would not have them forget the cross which would unmistakably come to them. They should not have any doubts about that. The disciple also should follow Christ carrying his own God-given cross.