Blessed Virgin Mary / St. Wenceslaus, king & martyr 

St. Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila, martyr & Companions, martys   

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

 Zechariah 2: 5-9, 14-15a

 Raising my eyes again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

I asked, “Where are you go­ing?”  He answered, “I’m going to measure Jerusalem, to find its width and its length.”  As the angel who spoke to me came forward, another angel met him  and said, “Run and tell this to that young man: ‘Jerusalem will remain unwalled because of its multitude of people and live­stock.’

 For this is the word of Yahweh: I myself will be around her like a wall of fire, and also within her in Glory.” “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for I am about to come, I shall dwell among you,” says Yahweh.

 “On that day, many nations will join Yahweh and be my people, but my dwelling is among you.”

  

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 9: 43b-45

 And all who saw it were astonished at God’s wonderful work.But while all were amazed at everything Jesus did, he said to his disciples,   “Listen and remember what I tell you now: The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.” 

But the disciples didn’t understand this saying; something prevented them from grasp­ing what he meant, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

 

Reflection gospel：

“BETRAYED INTO THE HANDS OF MEN.”

Humans are not without intellectual and affective faculties so that they would not know that this behavior or those practices pose danger to the life, good and well-being of each member of the community of life on Earth. We certainly know when human activities are destructive of our fellow humans and of other creatures.

We know when our actions violate the rights and dignity of others and compromise the flourishing of life on Earth.Human common sense and intelligence is so wired to the truth and the good that we receive signal(s) from within when our thoughts and actions become detrimental to life.

Are not people betrayed when the mountains are blasted and mined. When trees are cut down indiscriminately, and when the waters, the land and the air are being polluted. Look at what happened in countries, in areas struck by landslides, tsunamis, typhoons, etc.! Look at what happens when we continuously use coal and fossil fuel.

Are we not supposed to be “keepers” of our “sisters” and “brothers”, and protectors of God’s creation? Betray people, and some will voice out their complaints. But others resign in hopelessness and silence. Betray nature, and it will with back, unforgiving.