Hidden in the Open

Sep 30: Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Sep 29, 2023

St. Jerome was hired by Pope Damasus I to revise the official translation of the Gospels into a more contemporary sounding Latin.1 Jerome kinda went overboard and just translated the whole Bible from the oldest texts he could find in their original language.

St. Augustine had a problem with this—the Church had been using the Greek Septuagint since the beginning, not the original Hebrew. Not only would this mean Jerome is trusting his own translation over the ones the Apostles themselves used, but he’d be missing several books. Jerome relented, and combined his work with the commonly accepted translations of the Septuagint.

Over a thousand years later, protestant reformers decided Jerome was right in the first place, and removed seven books that we now call “deuterocanonical.”

I don’t read Hebrew, Greek, or Latin, so I don’t really have an opinion in that regard. But Jerome was almost excommunicated over this fight, and now he’s a canonized saint after conceding some points to Augustine. So, you know, that should tell you something.

Reading 1

Zec 2:5-9, 14-15a

I, Zechariah, raised my eyes and looked: there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, "Where are you going?"

He answered, "To measure Jerusalem, to see how great is its width and how great its length."

Then the angel who spoke with me advanced, and another angel came out to meet him and said to him, "Run, tell this to that young man: People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country, because of the multitude of men and beasts in her midst. But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst."

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.

This is a scene from Zechariah’s vision. The man with the measuring tape is planning on building a wall, which Jerusalem didn’t have at the time. But the angel (who has been guiding Zechariah through his vision) tells him to stop.

Why? Ancient cities always had walls, to protect them from invaders.

But Jerusalem isn’t just any old city; it’s God’s city. The angel will protect them with fire as the need arises. More importantly, God wants to welcome all nations to be a part of His people, eventually.

Responsorial Psalm

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd guards his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

Written during the time of the Babylonian exile, Jeremiah prophesies that the diaspora will return. He doesn’t know, like Zechariah, that the walls of Jerusalem will be open for all.

But Jeremiah, the so-called Weeping Prophet, is confident that Israel will see dancing and singing in the future. That’s how much he trusts in God.

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See 2 Tm 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

In context, Paul is talking about dying due to sin. It’s Jesus’ forgiveness that allows us to reunite with God and have life. He’s opened up the walls of the new Zion so every nation can enter.

Gospel

Lk 9:43b-45

While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, "Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men." But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

This opposite of our responsorial from Jeremiah, who’s usually such a downer, predicting nationwide parties. Jesus, often an upbeat kind of preacher, prophesies that he’s going to be killed. In fact, it’s the second time Jesus predicted the Passion, and the disciples are still afraid to ask Him what he means.

Why would they be afraid to ask? Well, in Matthew’s version of this story,2 they’re overwhelmed with grief. They know what He’s saying, but they don’t want to know.

This scene takes place right after the Transfiguration—they just saw Jesus in His glory. They believed the Messiah was going to be a military leader to free Israel from oppressors. Everything seemed to be lining up.

Then He goes and tells them He’s going to be handed over to the oppressors? And die?

If they asked Him what He meant, they were afraid He’d tell them exactly what they didn’t want to hear—it was all true. Sometimes, we don’t ask a question because we know we won’t like the answer.

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