Year C: 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading:  Zechariah 12: 10-11, 13:1

The First Reading has been chosen to give us an insight on the Gospel from the Old Testament.

The words “They will look on the one whom they have pierced” are picked up in John’s account of the Passion of Jesus. He has witnessed the suffering and death of Jesus - as Jesus foretold it in today’s Gospel - and the final act of brutality - the piercing of the side of His already dead body.

He speaks of people looking on the one whom they have pierced - perhaps recalling Zechariah’s words - that this will call forth a spirit of kindness from them - a spirit that mourns for the one who has suffered - a great mourning as for an only son - a first-born child.

And, of course, that is what Jesus is being revealed to be - the only-begotten Son of God - the First-born of all creation...

Peter began to recognise this in His declaration about Jesus - but fought shy of believing that it could lead to suffering and death.

Zechariah’s words give us an insight into what has happened - It is only in the moment of utter loss and of great mourning that the true identity of Jesus is revealed. The blood and water from His side become the fountain opened to cleanse and purify - not just the House of David and citizens of Jerusalem - but the whole world.

What does it mean for me?

How do you make sense of the fact that Jesus' glory is bound to his suffering and death?

         Text © 2006 Wellspring

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