Daily Mass Readings – Saturday, 25 September 2027

5 And I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold a man, with a measuring line in his hand.

6 And I said: Whither goest thou? and he said to me: To measure Jerusalem, and to see how great is the breadth thereof, and how great the length thereof.

7 And behold the angel that spoke in me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him.

8 And he said to him: Run, speak to this young man, saying: Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls, by reason of the multitude of men, and of the beasts in the midst thereof.

9 And I will be to it, saith the Lord, a wall of fire round about: and I will be in glory in the midst thereof.

14 Sing praise, and rejoice, O daughter of Sion: for behold I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee: saith the Lord.

15a And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee.

R. (10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the islands that are afar off, and say: He that scattered Israel will gather him: and he will keep him as the shepherd doth his flock.

R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

11 For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and delivered him out of the hand of one that was mightier than he.

12ab And they shall come, and shall give praise in mount Sion: and they shall flow together to the good things of the Lord.

R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, the young men and old men together: and I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them joyful after their sorrow.

R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

10 Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

44 While all were astonished at the mighty power of God. But while all wondered at all the things he did, he said to his disciples: Lay you up in your hearts these words, for it shall come to pass, that the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

45 But they understood not this word; and it was hid from them, so that they perceived it not. And they were afraid to ask him concerning this word.

Jerusalem is measured, yet its future cannot be contained by walls. The Lord promises to dwell in its midst and to be a wall of fire around it, gathering people from many nations into one people. The psalm gives this promise a tender image: God guards his people as a shepherd guards his flock. He gathers the scattered, redeems the powerless, and turns mourning into joy.

In the Gospel, this promise takes a deeper and more mysterious shape. Jesus reveals that the Son of Man will be handed over, even as people are still astonished by God’s mighty works through him. The disciples do not understand, and fear keeps them from asking. Faith often begins there: holding Christ’s word when its meaning has not yet become clear. The Savior who destroys death and brings life to light does so through the path he announces. God’s presence is not withdrawn when suffering appears; in Christ, he remains in the midst of his people and leads them through it. We can cling to his word before we see how it will be fulfilled.

Lord God, gather what is scattered within us and keep us close to your shepherding care. Dwell in the midst of your people, and be our protection when we feel exposed or uncertain. Give us the grace to hold the words of Jesus faithfully, even when we do not understand the road before us. Through your Son, who passed through suffering and destroyed death, deepen our trust in the life you promise. Turn our mourning toward joy, make us faithful in hope, and teach us to recognize your presence among us. Amen.