John 11:45-56

Ezekiel 37:21-28

Jeremiah 31:10. 11-12abcd, 13

John 11:45-56

Many of the Jews who had come to Mary

and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.

But some of them went to the Pharisees

and told them what Jesus had done.

So the chief priests and the Pharisees

convened the Sanhedrin and said,

“What are we going to do?

This man is performing many signs.

If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,

and the Romans will come

and take away both our land and our nation.”

But one of them, Caiaphas,

who was high priest that year, said to them,

“You know nothing,

nor do you consider that it is better for you

that one man should die instead of the people,

so that the whole nation may not perish.”

He did not say this on his own,

but since he was high priest for that year,

he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,

and not only for the nation,

but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.

So from that day on they planned to kill him.

So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews,

but he left for the region near the desert,

to a town called Ephraim,

and there he remained with his disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was near,

and many went up from the country to Jerusalem

before Passover to purify themselves.

They looked for Jesus and said to one another

as they were in the temple area, “What do you think?

That he will not come to the feast?”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are faithful to your promises and merciful when we are unfaithful. In the past, you revealed your fidelity and mercy to Moses and your people. Today, you reveal your faithful and merciful love to me through your Son.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Sanhedrin’s Response to the Raising of Lazarus: The response of the Sanhedrin to the raising of Lazarus by Jesus is not one of faith, but one of condemnation. They recognize that Jesus is performing extraordinary signs. But instead of pondering in prayer what this could mean – that Jesus is the Messiah sent by God – they prefer to remain in their blindness (John 9:39-41) and look at things from a very human point of view. If we do nothing, they argue, “the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” The theme of nationhood and land is a central theme in today’s First Reading as well as yesterday’s First Reading. Yesterday, we read how Abraham was promised both land and nationhood: “I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you ... I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:6,8). This promise to Abraham was then elevated to a covenant: “I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you” (Genesis 17:7).

2. Ezekiel’s Prophecy: Ezekiel’s prophecy was made when it seemed like the promise made to Abraham about the land and a royal dynasty had failed. The kingdom of David was divided, Israel had long been in exile, Jerusalem had fallen (Ezekiel 33:21), the temple was pillaged, and the king of Judah had been deposed. Ezekiel himself would die in exile in Babylon. Despite all this, God is faithful to his promises. Through Ezekiel, God says that he will gather the scattered children of Israel from among the nations and bring them back to the land promised to Abraham. God will make them one nation: “Never again shall they be two nations, and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms.” There will be a New David, a new servant of the Lord, who will rule over them. God will make an everlasting covenant of peace with them. He will dwell with them. He will be their God and they will be his people. This will be the true fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham: one kingdom, one nation, dwelling with God, united by an everlasting and unbreakable covenant.

3. Jesus as the Fulfillment of God’s Promises: Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made throughout the Old Testament: he is the New David, the Servant of God, the one sent to the lost tribes of Israel, the one who proclaims the coming of the Kingdom of God and establishes it, and the one who establishes the New Covenant. This New Covenant was established on the Cross. In the Gospel of John, the high priest Caiaphas does not realize the depth of his prophetic words. He thinks that by condemning Jesus to death, he will eliminate the problem Jesus is causing among the people and preserve the land promised to Abraham. Caiaphas says: “It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” John, however, knows that Jesus’ death will gather the dispersed children of God: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). John knows that Jesus’ death is key to the inauguration of the reign of God on earth. Jesus dies for us, removes the ancient curse of death, and bestows life on those who receive him in faith and love.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, it is so mysterious to see how people rejected you, your message of merciful love, and your mighty works. You were the innocent one who went about doing good, healing the sick, casting out demons, and feeding the hungry, and yet you were condemned and crucified by your people. Help me to embrace suffering and persecution for the sake of your name.

Living the Word of God: How is God calling me to live Holy Week this year? How can I participate more fully in the Church’s liturgy? What times can I reserve for prayer and contemplation? How can I serve those in need this upcoming week?