Daily Readings - Sat Sep 30 2017
First Reading - Zechariah 2.1-5, 10-11
Zechariah
I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
Gospel - Luke 9.43b-45
Luke
And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
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.