Daily Readings - Sat Sep 30 2017

First Reading - Zechariah 2.1-5, 10-11

¹And I lifted up my eyes, and I saw, and behold, a man, and in his hand was a measuring line²And I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, so that I may see how great its width and how great its length may be.³And behold, the angel, who had been speaking with me, departed, and another angel went out to meet him⁴And he said to him: Hurry, speak to this young man, saying: Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls, because of the multitude of men and beasts of burden in its midst⁵And I will be to it, says the Lord, a wall of fire all around. And in glory, I will be in its midst¹⁰Sing praise and rejoice, daughter of Zion. For behold, I approach, and I will dwell in your midst, says the Lord¹¹And many nations will be joined to the Lord in that day, and they will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst. And you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you

Gospel - Luke 9.43b-45

Luke

Chapter 9

⁴³And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and he healed the boy, and he restored him to his father⁴⁴And all were astonished at the greatness of God. And as everyone was wondering over all that he was doing, he said to his disciples: "You must set these words in your hearts. For it shall be that the Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men.⁴⁵But they did not understand this word, and it was concealed from them, so that they did not perceive it. And they were afraid to question him about this word

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter profound visions of divine presence and purpose. The first reading from Zechariah presents a prophetic vision where Jerusalem is measured, symbolizing God's promise of protection and restoration. Without physical walls, the city is safeguarded by God's fiery presence, and it becomes a place where many nations unite under the Lord. This vision speaks of a future where God's glory is central, and His people dwell securely in His midst. The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus, who demonstrates His power by healing a boy possessed by an unclean spirit. This miracle amazes the crowd, yet Jesus follows it with a foreboding statement about His impending betrayal. The disciples, however, fail to grasp the significance of His words, highlighting the tension between the present marvels and the future sacrifice that lies ahead. These readings invite us to reflect on trust and faith in God's plan. Just as Zechariah's vision calls for trust in God's protective presence, Luke's narrative urges us to embrace the mystery of Jesus' mission, even when it leads to the cross. In our daily lives, we may face uncertainties and challenges, but these readings remind us to trust in God's providence and to seek His presence as our strength. Let us, like the disciples, strive to understand and embrace the deeper truths of our faith, knowing that God's plan, though sometimes unclear, is always for our good.