Jesus Christ the savior destroyed evil and death; / made imperishable light and life shine through the Gospel***

First Reading: Zechariah 2:5-9:14-15

Reading of Zechariah's prophecy – 5I looked up and behold, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. 6I asked him, “Where are you going?” He answered me: “I am going to measure Jerusalem to see what its width and length are.” 7Behold, the angel who spoke in me appeared, while another angel came to meet him, 8who said to him: “Run and talk to this young man, saying: the people of Jerusalem need to be left without a wall, in view of the multitude of men and animals that live inside it. 9I will be for her, says the Lord, a wall of fire around her and will show my glory in her midst. 14Rejoice, be glad, O city of Zion, behold, I come to dwell among you, says the Lord. 15Many nations will come to the Lord in that day and will be his people. I will dwell among you.” - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Jer 31

The Lord will guard us like a shepherd his flock.

1. Hear, O nations, the word of the Lord / and proclaim it in the most distant islands: / “He who scattered Israel will gather him / and will guard him like a shepherd over his flock!” – R.

2. For, indeed, the Lord redeemed Jacob / and freed him from the power of the arrogant. / They will return to Mount Zion, † amid shouts and songs of joy / they will flock to the blessings of the Lord. – R.

3. Then the virgin will dance joyfully, / also the young and the old will exult; / I will change her mourning into joy, / I will be consolation and comfort after the war. – R.

Gospel: Luke 9,43-45

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Jesus Christ the savior destroyed evil and death; / he made imperishable light and life shine through the Gospel (2 Tim 1,10). – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke – At that time, 43everyone was amazed at all the things Jesus did. Then Jesus said to his disciples: 44“Pay careful attention to the words I am about to say: the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men.” 45But the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying. The meaning was hidden from them, so that they could not understand; and they were afraid to ask questions about it. – Word of salvation.

Reflection:

Jesus has moments of success among the people and arouses everyone's admiration, but he has his eyes fixed on the decisive work of salvation. For the second time, in short, Jesus warns his disciples about his tragic end. This information doesn't enter their heads. This type of advertisement does not fit with what they expect from Jesus. They cannot reconcile power with weakness: how can someone who drives out evil forces fall “into the hands of men”? For them, this kind of contradiction was incomprehensible. They will only understand after the resurrection, when Jesus “will open their intelligence to understand the Scriptures. Then he will say to them, 'It is written that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead on the third day'”