“But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.”
The readings today remind us clearly who Jesus is and who sent him. In the first reading, the prophet wants to go to Jerusalem and take the measure of the place. But God says there is no need to do that, as Jerusalem will be encircled by a wall of fire with glory in her midst. That is how great and honored Jerusalem will be, how much God loves his people.
In the Gospel, Jesus tries to tell his apostles how he will suffer in Jerusalem, but they do not understand even though they have been amazed by what Jesus has done. They are confused by the thought that a man so great would have to suffer. And yet, suffer he does. Right there in Jerusalem, and then he rises and ascends in glory to the Father. Indeed, glory comes after suffering.
That is the word for us as well. We are often wrecked by suffering, asking, “Why, Lord, why?” The short answer to why is that this is the human condition brought on by sin. But our faith shows and tells us that suffering can end in glory. Just as God says to Zechariah about Jerusalem, “But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.” I think he says the same to us.
He is with us, shielding us from the worst, surrounding us with his strength, and showing us his glory. This is an invitation to trust and surrender. To put our faith in the One, True God who cares and protects us, even when we feel hopeless. When you are in despair, pray that verse from Zechariah 2:9, and imagine God all around you offering protection and showing you his glory. The protection is his love, and the glory is the outcome that far surpasses our own thoughts about the best way things should turn out in a given situation.
Let us recall St. Jerome with admiration on feast day today, a Doctor of the Church who translated the scriptures from Hebrew into the vernacular.
“Yo mismo la rodearé, dice el Señor, como un muro de fuego y mi gloria estará en medio de ella”.
Las lecturas de hoy nos recuerdan claramente quién es Jesús y quién lo envió. En la primera lectura, el profeta quiere ir a Jerusalén y medir el lugar. Pero Dios dice que no hay necesidad de hacer eso, ya que Jerusalén estará rodeada por un muro de fuego con gloria en medio de ella. Así de grande y honrada será Jerusalén, cuánto ama Dios a su pueblo.
En el Evangelio, Jesús trata de decirles a sus apóstoles cómo sufrirá en Jerusalén, pero ellos no entienden a pesar de que han quedado asombrados por lo que Jesús ha hecho. Los confunde la idea de que un hombre tan grande tenga que sufrir. Y, sin embargo, sufre. Allí mismo en Jerusalén, y luego resucita y asciende en gloria al Padre. De hecho, la gloria viene después del sufrimiento.
Esa es la palabra para nosotros también. A menudo somos destrozados por el sufrimiento y nos preguntamos: “¿Por qué, Señor, por qué?” La respuesta corta a por qué es que esta es la condición humana provocada por el pecado. Pero nuestra fe nos muestra y nos dice que el sufrimiento puede terminar en gloria. Así como Dios le dice a Zacarías acerca de Jerusalén: “Yo mismo la rodearé, dice el Señor, como un muro de fuego y mi gloria estará en medio de ella”. Creo que nos dice lo mismo.
Él está con nosotros, protegiéndonos de lo peor, rodeándonos con su fuerza y mostrándonos su gloria. Esta es una invitación a la confianza y la entrega. Poner nuestra fe en el Dios Único y Verdadero que nos cuida y protege, incluso cuando nos sentimos desesperanzados. Cuando estés desesperado, reza este versículo de Zacarías 2:9 e imagina a Dios a tu alrededor ofreciéndote protección y mostrándote su gloria. La protección es su amor, y la gloria es el resultado que supera con creces nuestros propios pensamientos acerca de la mejor forma en que las cosas deben resultar en una situación dada.
Recordemos con admiración en la fiesta de hoy a San Jerónimo, Doctor de la Iglesia que tradujo las Escrituras del hebreo al vernáculo.
Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed.; M.P.A., is a certified spiritual director, writer, speaker and content creator. The LiveNotLukewarm.com online community is a place to inform, engage and inspire your Catholic faith. Her weekly Not Lukewarm Podcast gives you tips and tools to live out your faith in your daily life.
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