Daily Reading

First Reading

Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a

“For I will be a wall of fire all around it, says the LORD, and I will be the glory in its midst. Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD; for I have scattered you abroad like the four winds of heaven, says the LORD. Up! Escape to Zion, you that live with daughter Babylon. For thus says the LORD of hosts (after his glory sent me) regarding the nations that plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye. See now, I am going to raise my hand against them, and they shall become plunder for their own slaves.

Sing and rejoice, daughter Zion! Now, I am coming to dwell in your midst—oracle of the LORD. Many nations will bind themselves to the LORD on that day; they shall be my people, and I will dwell in your midst.

Psalm

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him and will keep him as a shepherd does a flock.”

For the LORD has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD …

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry; I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

Gospel Reading

Luke 9:43b-45

And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning remained concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Reflection

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus predicts his being handed over to men—that is, his Crucifixion. Here is the point I want to make: We are meant to see on that cross our own ugliness. What brings Jesus to the cross? Stupidity, anger, mistrust, institutional injustice, betrayal, denial, unspeakable cruelty, fear. St. Peter puts it with disquieting laconicism: The Author of life came and you killed him. In the light of the cross, all of the vermin are revealed. This is why we speak of the cross as God’s judgment on the world.

So far, so awful. But we can’t stop telling the story at this point. Dante and every other spiritual master know that the only way up is down. When we live unaware of our sins, we will never make spiritual progress. So we need the light, however painful it is. Then we can begin to rise. Once Dante makes it all the way to the center of hell, he suddenly finds himself climbing out.

On the cross of Jesus, we meet our own sin. But we also meet the divine mercy, which has taken that sin upon himself in order to swallow it up.