The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us with a contrast between our hopes and expectations for peace and security and the call to accompany Christ into situations where we are the agents of peace.
The Reading from the Prophet Zechariah describes The Third Vision: The Man with the Measuring Cord.
* [2:5] Measuring cord: a string for measuring, as opposed to a builder’s string, 1:16.
* [2:8] That official: probably the man with the measuring cord of v. 5.
* [2:9] Encircling wall of fire: divine protection for an unwalled Jerusalem. Urban centers were generally walled, and Jerusalem’s walls were eventually rebuilt in the late fifth century B.C. (Neh 2:17).
* [2:10] Land of the north: refers to Babylon (v. 11), in a geographic rather than a political sense, as the place from which exiles will return. The designation is “north” because imperial invaders historically entered Palestine from that direction (see Jer 3:18; 23:8).
* [2:15] Many nations…my people: a way of expressing God’s relationship to people in covenant language. The covenant between God and Israel (see Jer 31:33; 32:38) is here universalized to include all nations. (Zechariah, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
The Response is from Jeremiah 31.
* [31:2–3] Jeremiah describes the exiles of the Northern Kingdom on their way home from the nations where the Assyrians had resettled them (722/721 B.C.). The favor they discover in the wilderness is the appearance of the Lord (v. 3) coming to guide them to Jerusalem. Implicit in these verses is the presentation of the people’s return from captivity as a second exodus, a unifying theme in Second Isaiah (chaps. 40–55). (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus proclaims The Second Prediction of the Passion.
* [9:7–56] This section in which Luke gathers together incidents that focus on the identity of Jesus is introduced by a question that Herod is made to ask in this gospel: “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”(Lk 9:9) In subsequent episodes, Luke reveals to the reader various answers to Herod’s question: Jesus is one in whom God’s power is present and who provides for the needs of God’s people (Lk 9:10–17); Peter declares Jesus to be “the Messiah of God” (Lk 9:18–21); Jesus says he is the suffering Son of Man (Lk 9:22, 43–45); Jesus is the Master to be followed, even to death (Lk 9:23–27); Jesus is God’s son, his Chosen One (Lk 9:28–36). (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The scapegoat foreshadowed Christ's passion,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The mystery of the passion may be seen also in another instance. According to the Mosaic law, two goats were offered. They were not different in any way from one another (Leviticus 16:7-8), but they were alike in size and appearance. Of these, one was called 'the lord,' and the other was called 'sent-away.' When the lot was cast for the one called 'lord,' it was sacrificed. The other one was sent away from the sacrifice, and therefore had the name of 'sent-away.' Who was signified by this? The Word, though he was God, was in our likeness and took the form of us sinners, as far as the nature of the flesh was concerned. The male or female goat was sacrificed for sins. Death was our desert, for we had fallen under the divine curse because of sin. When the Savior of all undertook the responsibility, he transferred to himself what was due to us and laid down his life, that we might be sent away from death and destruction."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 53) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Zechariah and Haggai were contemporary prophets who wanted to console desolate Israel because everything was not as they expected when the exiles returned to Jerusalem. The city did not have walls and nomads would raid. Droughts brought locusts and Zechariah assures God will protect them with a wall of fire. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus predicts passion but the disciples did not understand. In Luke, Jesus spends many passages describing travelling to Jerusalem. Friar Jude notes Jesus readily embraces the mission. Like a Stoic, He discerns the Will and follows it as the only path to fulfillment.
Fr. Mike Schmitz encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowning of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Catholic activist Eileen Egan (1912–2000) who considers the universal nature of a greeting of peace.
Wishing peace is wishing the highest good that life can offer. The traditional greeting in Hebrew is shalom (peace). Salaam, the word for peace, is the salutation in Arabic. In Korean, the age-old greeting [annyeong haseyo] is also concerned with peace. The peacemaker can wish it to those who are like-minded or not, to all children of God anywhere, everywhere, in season and out.
Whatever the turmoil, whatever the divisions among humankind, whatever the violence, the followers of Jesus who have accepted his commission can refuse to be moved from his transcendent message of peace. May there come a time when the church, as a peace church without any ties to violence, may greet the human family with the words, “Peace be with you.” (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31, n.d.)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit to return us to the track of love and compassion when our aggravation with world events threatens to divert our path from the Way.
References
Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 27, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/31?10
Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 27, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 27, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-commitment-to-nonviolence-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). They Were Astonished at the Majesty of God. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 27, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=sep27
Zechariah, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 27, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/zechariah/2?5
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