DAILY MASS, GOSPEL AND COMMENTARY. JERUSALEM ADMONISHED (Lk 13:31–35).

Gospel of Thursday, 30th week in Ordinary Time
Lk 13:31–35

Jesus’ reply to Herod

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’

Jerusalem admonished

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Gospel Commentary from the Navarre Bible, Commentary of the Gospel of St. Luke (with permission)

Jesus’ reply to Herod
- 31-33 This episode apparently took place in the Perea region which, like Galilee, was under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas (cf. Lk 3:1), a son of Herod the Great (cf. note on Mt 2:1)..
  - On other occasions St Luke mentions that Herod was keen to meet Jesus and see him perform a miracle (cf. Lk 9:9; 23:8). These Pharisees may be giving Jesus the warning just to get him to go away.
  - Jesus calls Herod — and indirectly his accomplices — a “fox,” once again showing his rejection of duplicity and hypocrisy.
- Jesus’ answer shows them he is completely in command of his life and death: he is the Son of God and his Father’s will is his only governor (cf. Jn 10:18).
Jerusalem admonished
- 34 Jesus here shows the infinite extent of his love. St Augustine explores the meaning of this touching simile:
  - “You see, brethren, how a hen becomes weak with her chickens. No other bird, when it is a mother, shows its maternity so clearly. We see all kinds of sparrows building their nests before our eyes; we see swallows, storks, doves, every day building their nests; but we do not know them to be parents, except when we see them on their nests. But the hen is so enfeebled over her brood that even if the chickens are not following her, if you do not see the young ones, you still know her at once to be a mother. With her wings drooping, her feathers ruffled, her note hoarse, in all her limbs she becomes so sunken and abject, that, as I have said, even though you cannot see her young, you can see she is a mother. That is the way Jesus feels…” (In Ioann. Evang., 15, 7).
35 Jesus shows the deep sorrow he feels over Jerusalem’s resistance to the love God had so often shown it. Later St Luke will record Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem (cf. Lk 19:41).

VIDEO COMMENTARY ON TODAY’S FIRST READING

Eph 6:10–20
Brothers and sisters: Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

TOPIC: Do you love plan to be Iron Man as you face your foes?

I love watching the movies of Iron Man. Unlike many superheroes who have supernatural powers, he is an ordinary mortal like us who relies on his ingenuity and science by creating an armor to ward off evil and give justice to the oppressed.

Today’s first reading (Ephesians 6:10-20) talks about us wearing the armor of God. Unlike the nanotechnology that powers Iron Man’s suit, St. Paul reveals to us what will allow us to defeat evil and not be oppressed by the devil and his invisible presence.

Oct. 29, 2020: HOLY MASS