Luke 9:43b-45

Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

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.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the Lord of life and guide all things to their fulfillment. By sending your Son, you have overcome the sting of death and offer eternal life to your children. Teach me to die to myself so that I may live. 

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Second Passion Prediction: After the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36), Jesus foretells his upcoming death in Jerusalem a second time. The first foretelling (Luke 9:22) said that “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” This was followed by Jesus inviting his disciples to take up their own cross and follow him. The second passion prediction was followed by the disciples arguing over who was the greatest. Jesus responds by teaching them about humility. True greatness does not consist in earthly money, earthly power, or the attainment of pleasure. True greatness, the greatness that leads to divine and eternal life, consists in loving and humble service. It consists in sacrificing for others and welcoming the humble and child-like, who often struggle to care for themselves. 

2. The Book of Zechariah: There are twelve prophetic books in the Old Testament that form what was once called “The Book of the Twelve.” The Book of Zechariah is one of these twelve books and is the second-to-last. It comes after the Book of Haggai, which we have read during the past two days at Mass, and before the last prophetic book, the Book of Malachi. The first half of Zechariah (chaps. 1-8) offers a series of eight prophetic visions with precise dates, some corresponding to 520 B.C. and to 518 B.C. Like Haggai and Malachi, the book takes place after the Babylonian exile, with the first part of the book dealing with the rebuilding of the Temple, which was completed in 515 B.C. In the first vision (Zechariah 1:7-18), the prophet saw a man riding on a red horse. This meant that the Lord had returned to Jerusalem and was ready to bring about its rebuilding. In the second vision (Zechariah 1:18-21), Zechariah saw a set of four horns destroyed. This meant that the enemies of Judah would one day be destroyed. The First Reading follows Zechariah’s third vision (Zechariah 2:1-5), in which he saw a man measuring Jerusalem. The city was so large that no walls could contain it (Zechariah 2:4). Because of this, the Lord God will act as a protective wall around the city (Zechariah 2:5). Who is it that protects the New Jerusalem, the Church founded by Jesus Christ?

3. Zechariah’s Third Vision: In our First Reading, we hear Zechariah address the people of Judah who are still living in Babylon. He tells them to flee the wicked city (Zechariah 2:6) and return home to Jerusalem (Zechariah 2:7), where the Lord will dwell again (Zechariah 2:10). “The regathering of the exiles to Zion [Jerusalem] will also be a time of conversion when Gentiles embrace the God of Israel and become full members of the covenant community (Zechariah 2:11)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 1609). The Lord promises to dwell in Jerusalem, in the midst of his people: “Sing and rejoice, 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. Then you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you” (Zechariah 2:14-15). What wicked city do I need to flee? How can I return home?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you died on the Cross for me, broke the ancient curse, and established the New Covenant. As you died, you begged the Father to forgive me and gave your mother to care for me. Help me to imitate your loving and obedient sacrifice.

Living the Word of God: Do I contemplate the mysteries of life and death in my daily prayer? Am I prepared to meet the Lord and review how I have lived? What can I do to prepare for a holy death?