Happy Saturday, everyone!
The first two readings today carry an underlying sense of joy, leading into the Gospel reading, which, at first glance, seems to convey sadness or impending doom. I believe the Church, by pairing these readings, aims to guide us toward a proper understanding of the Gospel. The Gospel itself notes that even the Apostles did not fully grasp what Jesus was telling them, but the final line suggests they sensed the implications of His words: “They were afraid to ask him about this saying.” This fear likely wasn’t about Jesus reacting angrily to their questions—after all, the Apostles frequently sought clarification from Him—but rather a fear of what His answer might reveal.
At this point, the Apostles were still grappling with Jesus’ teachings that He must suffer and be handed over. As we reflected yesterday, how could the Messiah be handed over, suffer, and be killed? Reconciling the expected role of the Messiah with the path Jesus was taking must have been challenging for them. Fortunately, the Church has paired these readings to provide us with the proper context for what is to come. The first reading proclaims, “Sing and rejoice, O 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.” Similarly, the Responsorial Psalm echoes, “Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, and young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.”
In light of this shift toward joy in the Lord, we can properly frame today’s Gospel. While the Gospel carries overtones of sadness, we, as Christians, know that Jesus’ impending suffering and death fulfill God’s plan of redemption for all humanity. Though we should feel sorrow that Christ suffered in such a way for our sins, we should also feel hope, knowing He has redeemed mankind and reconciled humanity to God. The Apostles could not yet comprehend this great mystery, but while they struggled with the sorrow of what was to come, they would soon discover the joy it would bring.