Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 256
Lectionary: 256
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I will take the children of Israel from among the nations
to which they have come,
and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land.
I will make them one nation upon the land,
in the mountains of Israel,
and there shall be one prince for them all.
Never again shall they be two nations,
and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms.
No longer shall they defile themselves with their idols,
their abominations, and all their transgressions.
I will deliver them from all their sins of apostasy,
and cleanse them so that they may be my people
and I may be their God.
My servant David shall be prince over them,
and there shall be one shepherd for them all;
they shall live by my statutes and carefully observe my decrees.
They shall live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob,
the land where their fathers lived;
they shall live on it forever,
they, and their children, and their children's children,
with my servant David their prince forever.
I will make with them a covenant of peace;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them,
and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the LORD,
who make Israel holy,
when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.
I will take the children of Israel from among the nations
to which they have come,
and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land.
I will make them one nation upon the land,
in the mountains of Israel,
and there shall be one prince for them all.
Never again shall they be two nations,
and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms.
No longer shall they defile themselves with their idols,
their abominations, and all their transgressions.
I will deliver them from all their sins of apostasy,
and cleanse them so that they may be my people
and I may be their God.
My servant David shall be prince over them,
and there shall be one shepherd for them all;
they shall live by my statutes and carefully observe my decrees.
They shall live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob,
the land where their fathers lived;
they shall live on it forever,
they, and their children, and their children's children,
with my servant David their prince forever.
I will make with them a covenant of peace;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them,
and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the LORD,
who make Israel holy,
when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.
Responsorial
PsalmJER 31:10, 11-12ABCD, 13
R. (see 10d) 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 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:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
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.
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 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:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
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.
Verse Before
The GospelEZ 18:31
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
GospelJN 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?"
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?"
Meditation: They took counsel how to put him to death
Do you allow fear or opposition to hold you back from
doing God's will? Jesus set his face like flint toward Jerusalem, knowing full
well what awaited him there (Luke 9:51; Isaiah 50:7). It was Jewish belief that
when the high priest asked for God's counsel for the nation, God spoke through
him. What dramatic irony that Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus must die for the
nation. The prophet Ezekiel announced that God would establish one people, one
land, one prince, and one sanctuary forever.
Jesus suffered for us sinners the punishment we
deserved for our sins
Luke adds to Caiphas's prophecy that Jesus would gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. Jesus came to lay down his life for the many, but not in a foolish reckless manner so as to throw it away before his work was done. He retired until the time had come when nothing would stop his coming to Jerusalem to fulfill his Father's mission.
Luke adds to Caiphas's prophecy that Jesus would gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. Jesus came to lay down his life for the many, but not in a foolish reckless manner so as to throw it away before his work was done. He retired until the time had come when nothing would stop his coming to Jerusalem to fulfill his Father's mission.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) wrote:
"The passion of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ is the hope of glory and a lesson in patience... He loved us so
much that, sinless himself, he suffered for us sinners the punishment we
deserved for our sins. How then can he fail to give us the reward we deserve
for our righteousness, for he is the source of righteousness? How can he, whose
promises are true, fail to reward the saints when he bore the punishment of
sinners, though without sin himself? Brethren, let us then fearlessly
acknowledge, and even openly proclaim, that Christ was crucified for us; let us
confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but in glory."
The way to glory and
victory for us is through the cross of Jesus Christ. Are you ready to take up
your cross and follow Christ in his way of victory?
"Lord Jesus, may we your disciples be ever ready
to lay down our lives in conformity to your will, to willingly suffer and die
for you, that we may also share in your victory and glory."
A Daily Quote for Lent: The crucifixion is always lived, by
Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The crucifixion is something that must continue
throughout our life, not for forty days only, although Moses, Elijah, and
Christ fasted forty days. We are meant to learn from them not to cling to this
present world or imitate what it says, but to nail our unregenerate selves to
the cross." (excerpt from Sermon 205,1)
SATURDAY,
MARCH 24, JOHN 11:45-56
Lenten Weekday
(Ezekiel 37:21-28; Psalm: Jeremiah 31)
Lenten Weekday
(Ezekiel 37:21-28; Psalm: Jeremiah 31)
KEY VERSE: "It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish" (v.50).
TO KNOW: When Jesus raised Lazarus to from the dead (Jn 11:44), many came to believe in him. Others informed the Sanhedrin ("Great Assembly") about Jesus' deed. This religious council was composed of the elders, the priests (mostly Sadducees) and the Scribes (mostly Pharisees). They feared that if Jesus was allowed to continue his teachings, the people would acclaim him to be the Messiah. If that happened, the wrath of the Roman Empire would be brought down upon them; therefore, a plot was contrived to kill Jesus. Without realizing the importance of his words, Caiaphas, the high priest at the time (18-36 CE), said that it would be better for one man to die in order to preserve the entire nation. It is ironic that the gift of life offered to Lazarus would lead to Jesus' own death, which offered salvation to the whole world.
TO LOVE: Do I give myself for the sake of others?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to trust my life to God's plan.
Saturday 24
March 2018
Bl Oscar Romero.
Ezekiel 37:21-28. Jeremiah 31:10-13. John 11:45-56.
The Lord will guard us, like a shepherd guarding his
flock—Jeremiah 31:10-13.
It is better for one man to die for the people.
And this is about to happen, within the week. How often, still
today, do we hear that the end justifies the means? Down through history this
convenient lie has seen the deaths of Thomas Becket, Oscar Romero, and countless
other martyrs. Little did Caiaphas know that he was about to unleash the
greatest miracle of all.
By calling for Jesus to be killed, he thought to save the nation
from the Romans. How fearful were the disciples as they went to Ephraim? How
did Jesus encourage them, knowing what was to come?
Let us make this last journey to the cross, travelling the
Calvary road with him. Lord, help us to discern with integrity when making life
and death decisions, never taking the convenient way of not caring for the
lives of others.
Blessed Oscar Arnulfo Romero
Saint of the Day for March 24
(August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980)
Blessed Oscar Romero’s Story
The night before he was murdered while celebrating Mass, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador said on the
radio: “I would like to appeal in a special way to the men of the army, and in
particular to the troops of the National Guard, the police, and the garrisons.
Brothers, you belong to our own people. You kill your own brother peasants; and
in the face of an order to kill that is given by a man, the law of God that
says ‘Do not kill!’ should prevail.
“No soldier is obliged to obey an order counter to the law of
God. No one has to comply with an immoral law. It is the time now that you
recover your conscience and obey its dictates rather than the command of sin. .
. . Therefore, in the name of God, and in the name of this long-suffering
people, whose laments rise to heaven every day more tumultuous, I beseech you,
I beg you, I command you! In the name of God: ‘Cease the repression!’”
Simultaneously, Romero had eloquently upheld the gospel and
effectively signed his own death warrant.
When he was appointed archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, Bishop
Romero was considered a very “safe” choice. He had served as auxiliary bishop
there for four years before his three years as bishop of Santiago de Maria.
Oscar’s father wanted him to be a carpenter—a trade for which he
demonstrated some talent. Seminary classes in El Salvador preceded his studies
at Rome’s Gregorian University and his ordination in 1942. After earning a
doctorate in ascetical theology, he returned home and became a parish priest
and later rector of an interdiocesan seminary.
Three weeks after his appointment as archbishop, Romero was
shaken by the murder of his good friend Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, a
vigorous defender of the rights of the poor. Five more priests were
assassinated in the Archdiocese of San Salvador during Romero’s years as its
shepherd.
When a military junta seized control of the national government
in 1979, Archbishop Romero publicly criticized the US government for backing
the junta. His weekly radio sermons, broadcast throughout the country, were
regarded by many as the most trustworthy source of news available.
Romero’s funeral was celebrated in the plaza outside the
cathedral and drew an estimated 250,000 mourners.
His tomb in the cathedral crypt soon drew thousands of visitors
each year. On February 3, 2015, Pope Francis authorized a decree recognizing Oscar
Romero as a martyr for the faith. His beatification took place in San Salvador
on May 23, 2015.
Reflection
Archbishop Oscar Romero and many other Latin American martyrs
for the faith were falsely accused of advocating a Marxist-inspired “theology
of liberation.” Following Jesus always requires choices. Romero’s fiercest
critics conveniently dismissed his choices as politically inspired. An
incarnational faith must be expressed publicly.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 11,45-56
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Season of Lent
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord God, creator and Father of all,
Your sons and daughters
are still scattered and divided: Christians and non-Christians,
various Churches and sects
claiming exclusive rights on Your Son,
and each of them full of factions.
Make us dream again the dream
which You alone can make possible:
that we can all be one
if we believe and follow Him
who died to unite all that is scattered,
Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever.
Your sons and daughters
are still scattered and divided: Christians and non-Christians,
various Churches and sects
claiming exclusive rights on Your Son,
and each of them full of factions.
Make us dream again the dream
which You alone can make possible:
that we can all be one
if we believe and follow Him
who died to unite all that is scattered,
Jesus Christ, our Lord for ever.
2) GOSPEL READING – 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?"
3) REFLECTION
• The Gospel today gives the last part
of the long episode of the resurrection of Lazarus in Bethany, in the house of
Martha and Mary (Jn 11:1-56). The resurrection of Lazarus is the seventh sign
(miracle) of Jesus in John’s Gospel and is also the high and decisive point of
the revelation which He made of God and of himself.
• The small community of Bethany, where Jesus liked to go, mirrors the situation and the life-style of the small community of the Beloved Disciple at the end of the first century in Asia Minor. Bethany means “The House of the Poor”. They were poor communities and a poor people. Martha means” Lady” (coordinator): a woman coordinated the community. Lazarus means “God helps”. The community which was poor expected everything from God. Mary means “loved by Yahweh: she was the beloved disciple, image of the community. The episode of the resurrection of Lazarus communicated this certainty: Jesus is the source of life for the community of the poor. Jesus is the source of life for all those who believe in Him.
• John 11:45-46: The repercussion of the Seventh Sign among the people. After the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-44), there is the description of the repercussion of this sign among the people. The people were divided; “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what He did, believed in Him”. But some of them went to the Pharisees to tell them what Jesus had done.
The latter denounced Him. In order to be able to understand this reaction of one part of the population it is necessary to become aware that half of the population of Jerusalem depended completely on the Temple so as to be able to live and to survive. Because of this, it would have been difficult for them to support an unknown prophet from Galilee who criticized the Temple and the authority. This also explains why some even were ready to inform the authority.
• John 11:47-53: The repercussion of the Seventh Sign among those in authority. The news of the resurrection of Lazarus increased the popularity of Jesus. This is why the religious leaders convoked a council meeting, the Sanhedrin, the maximum authority, to discern getting rid of Him; because “this man works many signs. If we let Him go on this way everybody will believe in Him and the Romans will come and suppress the Holy Place and our nation”. They were afraid of the Romans, because in the past it had been shown many times, by the Roman invasions in the year 64 before Christ until the time of Jesus, that the Romans repressed with great violence any attempt of popular rebellion. (Cf. Ac 5:35-37). In the case of Jesus, the Roman reaction could have lead to the loss of everything, even of the Temple and of the privileged position of the priests. Because of this, Caiaphas, the High Priest, decides: “It is better that one man should die for the people, rather than that the whole nation should perish”. And the Evangelist comments: “He did not speak this in His own person, but as high priest of that year, he was prophesying that Jesus was to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather together into one the scattered children of God”. Thus, beginning at that moment, because the chief priests were concerned Jesus’ authority was growing, and being motivated by the fear of the Romans, they decided to kill Jesus.
• John 11:54-56: The repercussion of the seventh sign in the life of Jesus. The final result is that Jesus had to live apart. “So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews; He left the district and went to a region near the desert, to a city called Ephraim and stayed there with His disciples”. The Jewish Passover was drawing near. At this time of the year, the population of Jerusalem tripled because of the great number of pilgrims. The conversation was all around Jesus: "What do you think, will He come to the festival or not?” In the same way, at the time that the Gospel was written at the end of the first century, the time of the persecution of the Emperor Domitian (from 81 to 96), the Christian communities who lived in the service of others were obliged to live clandestinely.
• A key to understand the seventh sign of the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus was sick. His sisters Martha and Mary sent someone to call Jesus: “The one whom you love is sick!” (Jn 11:3. 5). Jesus responds to the request and explains to the disciples: “This sickness will not end in death, but it is for God’s glory so that through it the Son of God may be glorified” (Jn 11:4) In John’s Gospel, the glorification of Jesus comes through His death (Jn 12:23; 17:1). One of the causes of His condemnation to death was the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11:50; 12:10). Many Jews were in the house of Martha and Mary to console them because of the loss of their brother. The Jews, representatives of the Ancient Covenant, only know how to console. They do not give new life.... Jesus is the one who brings new life! Thus, on one side, the threat of death against Jesus! On the other, Jesus who overcomes death! In this context of conflict between life and death the seventh sign of the resurrection of Lazarus takes place. Martha says that she believes in the resurrection. The Pharisees and the majority of the people say that they believe in the Resurrection (Ac 23:6-10; Mk 12:18). They believed, but they did not reveal it. It was only faith in the resurrection at the end of time and not in the present resurrection in history, here and now. This ancient faith did not renew life. It is not enough to believe in the resurrection which will come at the end of time, but it is necessary to believe in the Resurrection already present here and now in the person of Jesus and in those who believe in Jesus. On these people, death no longer has any power, because Jesus “is the resurrection and the life”. Even without seeing the concrete sign of the resurrection of Lazarus, Martha confesses her faith: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God who was to come into the world” (Jn 11:27).
Jesus orders that the stone be removed. Martha reacts: "Lord, by now He will smell! This is the fourth day since He died!” (Jn 11:39). Once again Jesus presents the challenge asking to believe in the resurrection, here and now, as a sign of the glory of God: "Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40). They removed the stone. Before the open tomb and before the unbelief of the persons, Jesus addresses himself to the Father. In His prayer, first of all, He gives thanks: “Father, I thank you for hearing My prayer. I myself know that you hear me always!” (Jn 11:41-42). Jesus knows the Father and trusts Him. But now He asks for a sign because of the multitude which is around Him, so that the people can believe that He, Jesus, has been sent by the Father. Then He cried out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus came out (Jn 11:43-44). This is the triumph of life over death, of faith over unbelief. A farmer once commented: "It is up to us to remove the stone. And it is up to God to resurrect the community. There are people who do not know how to remove the stone, and because of this their community has no life!”
• The small community of Bethany, where Jesus liked to go, mirrors the situation and the life-style of the small community of the Beloved Disciple at the end of the first century in Asia Minor. Bethany means “The House of the Poor”. They were poor communities and a poor people. Martha means” Lady” (coordinator): a woman coordinated the community. Lazarus means “God helps”. The community which was poor expected everything from God. Mary means “loved by Yahweh: she was the beloved disciple, image of the community. The episode of the resurrection of Lazarus communicated this certainty: Jesus is the source of life for the community of the poor. Jesus is the source of life for all those who believe in Him.
• John 11:45-46: The repercussion of the Seventh Sign among the people. After the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-44), there is the description of the repercussion of this sign among the people. The people were divided; “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what He did, believed in Him”. But some of them went to the Pharisees to tell them what Jesus had done.
The latter denounced Him. In order to be able to understand this reaction of one part of the population it is necessary to become aware that half of the population of Jerusalem depended completely on the Temple so as to be able to live and to survive. Because of this, it would have been difficult for them to support an unknown prophet from Galilee who criticized the Temple and the authority. This also explains why some even were ready to inform the authority.
• John 11:47-53: The repercussion of the Seventh Sign among those in authority. The news of the resurrection of Lazarus increased the popularity of Jesus. This is why the religious leaders convoked a council meeting, the Sanhedrin, the maximum authority, to discern getting rid of Him; because “this man works many signs. If we let Him go on this way everybody will believe in Him and the Romans will come and suppress the Holy Place and our nation”. They were afraid of the Romans, because in the past it had been shown many times, by the Roman invasions in the year 64 before Christ until the time of Jesus, that the Romans repressed with great violence any attempt of popular rebellion. (Cf. Ac 5:35-37). In the case of Jesus, the Roman reaction could have lead to the loss of everything, even of the Temple and of the privileged position of the priests. Because of this, Caiaphas, the High Priest, decides: “It is better that one man should die for the people, rather than that the whole nation should perish”. And the Evangelist comments: “He did not speak this in His own person, but as high priest of that year, he was prophesying that Jesus was to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather together into one the scattered children of God”. Thus, beginning at that moment, because the chief priests were concerned Jesus’ authority was growing, and being motivated by the fear of the Romans, they decided to kill Jesus.
• John 11:54-56: The repercussion of the seventh sign in the life of Jesus. The final result is that Jesus had to live apart. “So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews; He left the district and went to a region near the desert, to a city called Ephraim and stayed there with His disciples”. The Jewish Passover was drawing near. At this time of the year, the population of Jerusalem tripled because of the great number of pilgrims. The conversation was all around Jesus: "What do you think, will He come to the festival or not?” In the same way, at the time that the Gospel was written at the end of the first century, the time of the persecution of the Emperor Domitian (from 81 to 96), the Christian communities who lived in the service of others were obliged to live clandestinely.
• A key to understand the seventh sign of the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus was sick. His sisters Martha and Mary sent someone to call Jesus: “The one whom you love is sick!” (Jn 11:3. 5). Jesus responds to the request and explains to the disciples: “This sickness will not end in death, but it is for God’s glory so that through it the Son of God may be glorified” (Jn 11:4) In John’s Gospel, the glorification of Jesus comes through His death (Jn 12:23; 17:1). One of the causes of His condemnation to death was the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11:50; 12:10). Many Jews were in the house of Martha and Mary to console them because of the loss of their brother. The Jews, representatives of the Ancient Covenant, only know how to console. They do not give new life.... Jesus is the one who brings new life! Thus, on one side, the threat of death against Jesus! On the other, Jesus who overcomes death! In this context of conflict between life and death the seventh sign of the resurrection of Lazarus takes place. Martha says that she believes in the resurrection. The Pharisees and the majority of the people say that they believe in the Resurrection (Ac 23:6-10; Mk 12:18). They believed, but they did not reveal it. It was only faith in the resurrection at the end of time and not in the present resurrection in history, here and now. This ancient faith did not renew life. It is not enough to believe in the resurrection which will come at the end of time, but it is necessary to believe in the Resurrection already present here and now in the person of Jesus and in those who believe in Jesus. On these people, death no longer has any power, because Jesus “is the resurrection and the life”. Even without seeing the concrete sign of the resurrection of Lazarus, Martha confesses her faith: “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God who was to come into the world” (Jn 11:27).
Jesus orders that the stone be removed. Martha reacts: "Lord, by now He will smell! This is the fourth day since He died!” (Jn 11:39). Once again Jesus presents the challenge asking to believe in the resurrection, here and now, as a sign of the glory of God: "Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40). They removed the stone. Before the open tomb and before the unbelief of the persons, Jesus addresses himself to the Father. In His prayer, first of all, He gives thanks: “Father, I thank you for hearing My prayer. I myself know that you hear me always!” (Jn 11:41-42). Jesus knows the Father and trusts Him. But now He asks for a sign because of the multitude which is around Him, so that the people can believe that He, Jesus, has been sent by the Father. Then He cried out in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus came out (Jn 11:43-44). This is the triumph of life over death, of faith over unbelief. A farmer once commented: "It is up to us to remove the stone. And it is up to God to resurrect the community. There are people who do not know how to remove the stone, and because of this their community has no life!”
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• What does it mean for me to believe in
the resurrection?
• Have I ever “sacrificed” someone rather than protect them in order to preserve the status quo?
• Have I ever “sacrificed” someone rather than protect them in order to preserve the status quo?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
For You are my hope, Lord, my trust,
Yahweh, since my youth.
On You I have relied since my birth,
since my mother's womb You have been my portion,
the constant theme of my praise. (Ps 71:5-6)
On You I have relied since my birth,
since my mother's womb You have been my portion,
the constant theme of my praise. (Ps 71:5-6)
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