Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 454
Lectionary: 454
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.
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
PsalmJEREMIAH 31:10, 11-12AB,
13
R.(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.
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.
AlleluiaSEE 2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 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.
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.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Wenceslaus, please
go here.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence Ruiz and
Companions, please go here.
Meditation:
"They
were astonished at the majesty of God"
Do
you know the majesty of God? When we ascribe majesty to someone or something we
acknowledge greatness in that person or thing and voice our respect for it. The
miracles of Jesus revealed the awesome power and majesty of God and his favor
and blessing (grace) - especially towards the lowly and humble of heart.
God's
way to victory and glory is through the cross
But with the miracles Jesus also gave a prophetic warning: There can be no share in God's glory without the cross. Jesus prophesied his own betrayal and crucifixion - but it did not make any sense to the disciples because it did not fit their understanding of the Messiah who was supposed to come and free his people from tyranny and oppression. Little did they know that the way to victory over sin and death would be through the cross and resurrection of Christ.
But with the miracles Jesus also gave a prophetic warning: There can be no share in God's glory without the cross. Jesus prophesied his own betrayal and crucifixion - but it did not make any sense to the disciples because it did not fit their understanding of the Messiah who was supposed to come and free his people from tyranny and oppression. Little did they know that the way to victory over sin and death would be through the cross and resurrection of Christ.
Our
fear of suffering betrays our lack of hope in Christ's victory
When the disciples heard Jesus' prediction of suffering and betrayal they were afraid to ask further questions. Like a person who might receive bad news from the doctor about some tumor or disease that could destroy them and then refuse to ask any further questions, the disciples of Jesus didn't want to know any more about the consequences of possible suffering, defeat, and death on a cross. They couldn't understand how the cross could bring victory and lead to new life and freedom in Christ.
When the disciples heard Jesus' prediction of suffering and betrayal they were afraid to ask further questions. Like a person who might receive bad news from the doctor about some tumor or disease that could destroy them and then refuse to ask any further questions, the disciples of Jesus didn't want to know any more about the consequences of possible suffering, defeat, and death on a cross. They couldn't understand how the cross could bring victory and lead to new life and freedom in Christ.
How
often do we reject what we do not wish to see? We have heard God's word and we
know the consequences of accepting it or rejecting it. But do we give it our
full allegiance and mold our lives according to it? Ask the Lord Jesus to show
you his majesty and glory that you may grow in reverence of him and in godly
fear (reverence) of his word.
"Lord
Jesus, by your cross you have redeemed the world and revealed your glory and
triumph over sin and death. May I never fail to see your glory and victory in
the cross. Help me to conform my life to your will and to follow in your way of
love and holiness."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The scapegoat foreshadowed Christ's
passion, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"The
mystery of the passion may be seen also in another instance. According to the
Mosaic law, two goats were offered. They were not different in any way from one
another (Leviticus 16:7-8), but they were alike in size and appearance. Of
these, one was called 'the lord,' and the other was called 'sent-away.' When
the lot was cast for the one called 'lord,' it was sacrificed. The other one
was sent away from the sacrifice, and therefore had the name of 'sent-away.'
Who was signified by this? The Word, though he was God, was in our likeness and
took the form of us sinners, as far as the nature of the flesh was concerned.
The male or female goat was sacrificed for sins. Death was our desert, for we
had fallen under the divine curse because of sin. When the Savior of all
undertook the responsibility, he transferred to himself what was due to us and
laid down his life, that we might be sent away from death and
destruction." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 53)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28,
LUKE 9:18-22
Weekday
(Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a; Jeremiah 31)
Weekday
(Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a; Jeremiah 31)
KEY VERSE: "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men" (v. 44).
TO KNOW: The people were amazed by the power of God at work in Jesus. In the midst of this adulation, Jesus told his disciples that he was the suffering "Son of Man" (v. 44), his most characteristic way of speaking of himself. In saying this, he identified himself with the figure in the book of Daniel, which speaks of one like a 'son of man' coming on the clouds from heaven (Dn 7:9-10). When Jesus used the term, he was referring not only to himself, but also to all those who believed in him. As “the son of man” (Hebrew, ben Adam) Jesus is the new and true son of Adam. Where Adam failed and led the entire human race into captivity to sin and death, Jesus brought life and freedom. Like the people of Israel who opposed the "beast-like" kingdoms of the world (Dn 7:1-8), Jesus triumphed over his enemies. In Luke's gospel, this is Jesus' second prediction of his passion (see Lk 9:22), yet his disciples still failed to understand his meaning.
TO LOVE: Do I pay attention to what Jesus is telling me?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be faithful to you in adversity and in victory.
Optional memorial of
Saint Wenceslaus, martyr
At the death of King Vratislaus, who was killed during a pagan backlash against Christianity, the people of Bohemia made his son Wenceslaus their king (907–935). He was a man of utmost faith, charitable to the poor, offered hospitality to travelers, and would not allow widows to be treated unjustly. He loved all his people, both rich and poor. Boleslaus, his brother, no longer successor to the throne, joined a group of Czech dissenters. They invited Wenceslaus to a religious festival, trapped and killed him on the way to Mass. Wenceslaus is the patron saint of Bohemia. Although he was killed for political reasons, he is normally listed as a martyr since his politics arose from his faith. Miracles have been reported at his tomb.
NOTE: "Good King Wenceslaus" is a popular Christmas carol that tells a story of a Bohemian king going on a journey and braving harsh winter weather to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (December 26, the First Day of Christmas). During the journey, his page is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather, but is enabled to continue by following the king's footprints, step for step, through the deep snow. English hymn writer John Mason Neale wrote the "Wenceslaus" lyrics, in collaboration with his music editor Thomas Helmore, and the carol first appeared in Carols for Christmas-Tide, 1853.
Saturday 28 September 2019
Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15.
Jeremiah 31:10-13. Luke 9:43-45.
The Lord will guard us, like a shepherd guarding his flock – Jeremiah 31:10-13
‘They shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord’
The Lord will guard us, like a shepherd guarding his flock – Jeremiah 31:10-13
‘They shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord’
Jeremiah reminds us of
the hope-filled joy we experience when we turn to the Lord who is like a
shepherd bringing nourishment and life to those who are scattered. Like a
shepherd, he will gather the flock, and show the paths back to pastures full of
goodness and love. He will guard the young and the old providing plentiful
abundance to sustain each one forever.
Zechariah also speaks of
the protection of the Lord when he announces that that the ‘one who touches you
touches the apple of my eye’. For all time people have been imbued with God’s
love as this expression so eloquently demonstrates. Let us ponder and pray for
those who are scattered that they will become aware of the presence of the One
who promises an eternal covenant of love and protection. Be with us, Lord, and
make us radiant with your goodness.
Saint Wenceslaus
Saint of the Day for
September 28
(c. 907 – 929)
 |
| Saint Wenceslaus statue on the Gothic Bridge in Kłodzko | photo by Jacek Halicki |
Saint Wenceslaus’
Story
If saints have been
falsely characterized as “other worldly,” the life of Wenceslaus stands as an
example to the contrary: He stood for Christian values in the midst of the
political intrigues which characterized 10th-century Bohemia.
Wenceslaus was born in
907 near Prague, son of the Duke of Bohemia. His saintly grandmother, Ludmilla,
raised him and sought to promote him as ruler of Bohemia in place of his
mother, who favored the anti-Christian factions. Ludmilla was eventually
murdered, but rival Christian forces enabled Wenceslaus to assume leadership of
the government.
His rule was marked by
efforts toward unification within Bohemia, support of the Church, and
peace-making negotiations with Germany, a policy which caused him trouble with
the anti-Christian opposition. His brother Boleslav joined in the plotting, and
in September of 929 invited Wenceslaus to Alt Bunglou for the celebration of
the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian. On the way to Mass, Boleslav
attacked his brother, and in the struggle, Wenceslaus was killed by supporters
of Boleslav.
Although his death
resulted primarily from political upheaval, Wenceslaus was hailed as a martyr
for the faith, and his tomb became a pilgrimage shrine. He is hailed as the
patron of the Bohemian people and of the former Czechoslovakia.
Reflection
“Good King Wenceslaus”
was able to incarnate his Christianity in a world filled with political unrest.
While we are often victims of violence of a different sort, we can easily
identify with his struggle to bring harmony to society. The call to become
involved in social change and in political activity is addressed to Christians;
the values of the gospel are sorely needed today.
Saint Wenceslaus is
the Patron Saint of:
Bohemia
Lectio Divina: Luke
9:43b-45
Lectio Divina
Saturday, September 28,
2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father,
guide us, as You guide creation
according to Your law of love.
May we love one another
and come to perfection
in the eternal life prepared for us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
guide us, as You guide creation
according to Your law of love.
May we love one another
and come to perfection
in the eternal life prepared for us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Luke
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.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today
presents the second announcement of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of
Jesus. The disciples do not understand the words about the cross, because they
are not able to understand a Messiah who becomes the servant of his brothers.
They continue to dream about a glorious Messiah.
• Luke 9:43b-44: The contrast. “Everyone was full of admiration for all He did”. Jesus said to His disciples “For your part you must have these words constantly in mind: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the power of men”. The contrast is very big. On one side, the vibration and admiration of the people for everything that Jesus said and did. Jesus seems to correspond to all that people dream, believe and expect. On the other side, the affirmation of Jesus that He will be put to death and delivered in the hands of men, that is, the opinion of the authority on Jesus is totally contrary to the opinion of the people.
• Luke 9:45: The announcement of the Cross. “But they did not understand what He said; for them it was so mysterious, that they did not understand the meaning and were afraid to ask questions concerning this argument”. The disciples listened to Him but they did not understand the words about the cross. But even in this way, they do not ask for any clarification. They are afraid to show their ignorance!
• The title Son of Man. This name appears quite frequently in the Gospels: 12 times in John, 13 in Mark, 28 in Luke, 30 in Matthew. In all, it appears 83 times in the four Gospels. This is the name which pleased Jesus the most. This title comes from the Old Testament. In the Book of Ezekiel, is indicated the very human condition of the prophet (Ezek 3:1,4,10, 17; 4:1 etc.). In the Book of Daniel, the same title appears in the apocalyptic vision (Dan 7:1-28) in which Daniel describes the empires of the Babylonians, of the Medes, of the Persians and of the Greeks. In the vision of the prophet, these four empires have the appearance of “monstrous animals” (cf. Dan 7: 3-8). They are animal empires which are brutal, inhuman, which persecute, dehumanize and kill (Dan 7:21,25). In the vision of the prophet, after the anti-human kingdoms, the Kingdom of God appears which has the appearance, not of an animal, but rather of a human person, a Son of Man. That is, a Kingdom with the appearance of people, a human kingdom, which promotes life, it humanizes (Dan 7:13-14). In the prophecy of Daniel the Son of Man represents, not an individual, but rather, as he himself says, the “people of the Saints of the Most High” (Dan 7:27; cf. Dan 7:18). It is the People of God who do not allow themselves to be dehumanized nor deceived or manipulated by the dominating ideology of the animal empires. The mission of the Son of Man, that is, of the People of God, consists in realizing the Kingdom of God as a human kingdom. That is, a Kingdom which promotes life, which humanizes persons.
Presenting Himself as Son of Man to the disciples, Jesus makes this mission His own which is the mission of all the People of God. It is as if He were to say to them and to all of us: “Come with Me! This mission is not only Mine, but it belongs to all of us! Let us go together to carry out the mission which God has entrusted to us, and thus realize the human and humanizing Kingdom of which He dreamt!” And He did this during all his life, especially during the last three years. Pope Leo the Great said, “Jesus was so human, but so human, like only God can be human”. The more human He was, the more divine He was. The more He is “Son of Man” the more He is “Son of God!” Everything which dehumanizes persons draws away from God. That was condemned by God, who has placed the good of the human person above all the laws, above the Sabbath or Saturday (Mk 2:27). At the moment when He was condemned to death by the religious tribunal of the Synedrium, Jesus assumes this title. When He was asked if He was “the Son of God” (Mk 14:61), He answered that He is the “Son of Man”: “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty” (Mk 14: 62). Because of this affirmation He was declared, by the authorities, guilty, deserving death. He Himself knew it because He had said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10: 45).
• Luke 9:43b-44: The contrast. “Everyone was full of admiration for all He did”. Jesus said to His disciples “For your part you must have these words constantly in mind: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the power of men”. The contrast is very big. On one side, the vibration and admiration of the people for everything that Jesus said and did. Jesus seems to correspond to all that people dream, believe and expect. On the other side, the affirmation of Jesus that He will be put to death and delivered in the hands of men, that is, the opinion of the authority on Jesus is totally contrary to the opinion of the people.
• Luke 9:45: The announcement of the Cross. “But they did not understand what He said; for them it was so mysterious, that they did not understand the meaning and were afraid to ask questions concerning this argument”. The disciples listened to Him but they did not understand the words about the cross. But even in this way, they do not ask for any clarification. They are afraid to show their ignorance!
• The title Son of Man. This name appears quite frequently in the Gospels: 12 times in John, 13 in Mark, 28 in Luke, 30 in Matthew. In all, it appears 83 times in the four Gospels. This is the name which pleased Jesus the most. This title comes from the Old Testament. In the Book of Ezekiel, is indicated the very human condition of the prophet (Ezek 3:1,4,10, 17; 4:1 etc.). In the Book of Daniel, the same title appears in the apocalyptic vision (Dan 7:1-28) in which Daniel describes the empires of the Babylonians, of the Medes, of the Persians and of the Greeks. In the vision of the prophet, these four empires have the appearance of “monstrous animals” (cf. Dan 7: 3-8). They are animal empires which are brutal, inhuman, which persecute, dehumanize and kill (Dan 7:21,25). In the vision of the prophet, after the anti-human kingdoms, the Kingdom of God appears which has the appearance, not of an animal, but rather of a human person, a Son of Man. That is, a Kingdom with the appearance of people, a human kingdom, which promotes life, it humanizes (Dan 7:13-14). In the prophecy of Daniel the Son of Man represents, not an individual, but rather, as he himself says, the “people of the Saints of the Most High” (Dan 7:27; cf. Dan 7:18). It is the People of God who do not allow themselves to be dehumanized nor deceived or manipulated by the dominating ideology of the animal empires. The mission of the Son of Man, that is, of the People of God, consists in realizing the Kingdom of God as a human kingdom. That is, a Kingdom which promotes life, which humanizes persons.
Presenting Himself as Son of Man to the disciples, Jesus makes this mission His own which is the mission of all the People of God. It is as if He were to say to them and to all of us: “Come with Me! This mission is not only Mine, but it belongs to all of us! Let us go together to carry out the mission which God has entrusted to us, and thus realize the human and humanizing Kingdom of which He dreamt!” And He did this during all his life, especially during the last three years. Pope Leo the Great said, “Jesus was so human, but so human, like only God can be human”. The more human He was, the more divine He was. The more He is “Son of Man” the more He is “Son of God!” Everything which dehumanizes persons draws away from God. That was condemned by God, who has placed the good of the human person above all the laws, above the Sabbath or Saturday (Mk 2:27). At the moment when He was condemned to death by the religious tribunal of the Synedrium, Jesus assumes this title. When He was asked if He was “the Son of God” (Mk 14:61), He answered that He is the “Son of Man”: “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty” (Mk 14: 62). Because of this affirmation He was declared, by the authorities, guilty, deserving death. He Himself knew it because He had said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10: 45).
4) Personal questions
• How do you combine
suffering and faith in God in your life?
• In the time of Jesus there was contrast: people thought and expected or hoped in a certain way; the religious authority thought and expected or hoped in a different way. Today, this same contrast exists.
• In the time of Jesus there was contrast: people thought and expected or hoped in a certain way; the religious authority thought and expected or hoped in a different way. Today, this same contrast exists.
5) Concluding Prayer
For ever, Yahweh,
Your word is planted firm in heaven.
Your constancy endures from age to age;
You established the earth and it stands firm. (Ps 119:89-90)
Your word is planted firm in heaven.
Your constancy endures from age to age;
You established the earth and it stands firm. (Ps 119:89-90)
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