First reading Zechariah 2:5-9,14-15
‘I will be the glory of Jerusalem’
Raising my eyes, I saw a vision. It was this: there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked him, ‘Where are you going?’ He said, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to find out her breadth and her length.’ And then, while the angel who was talking to me stood still, another angel came forward to meet him. He said to him, ‘Run, and tell that young man this, “Jerusalem is to remain unwalled, because of the great number of men and cattle there will be in her. But I – it is the Lord who speaks – I will be a wall of fire for her all round her, and I will be her glory in the midst of her.”’
Sing, rejoice,
daughter of Zion;
for I am coming
to dwell in the middle of you
– it is the Lord who speaks.
Many nations will join the Lord,
on that day;
they will become his people.
Responsorial Psalm Jeremiah 31:10-12,13
The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
O nations, hear the word of the Lord,
proclaim it to the far-off coasts.
Say: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.’
The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
has saved him from an overpowering hand.
They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion,
they will stream to the blessings of the Lord.
The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the young girls will rejoice and will dance,
the men, young and old, will be glad.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console them, give them gladness for grief.
The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.
Gospel Luke 9:43-45
They were afraid to ask him what he meant
At a time when everyone was full of admiration for all he did, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.”’ But they did not understand him when he said this; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had just said.
______________________
The joy of doing God’s will
The people were full of admiration for the amazing things that Jesus did. However, Jesus was not caught up with the praises and respect of others. He knew that the capriciousness and fickleness of human admiration. What about us? Do we live for the approval and praises of others? Or do we fix our eyes on pleasing God and doing His will?
Today, Jesus knew that He would soon undergo the path of suffering. His unconventional ways of relating with the outcasts, standing in solidarity with the poor and preaching a God of love had rocked the boat of the Pharisees. He accepted that the cross was the consequence of His mission. Today, Jesus calls us to participate in His mission of doing good, standing up for the truth, working for peace, speaking out for injustice, etc. These actions might not make others praise and admire us. Instead, we might experience rejections, criticisms and persecutions. Yet, we keep on walking in the same path of our Master.
Question for reflection:
What is the purpose of my life?
What is the purpose of my life?
