HOMILY OF SATURDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK IN LENT
Ezekiel 37:21-28, John 11:45-56
THEME: OUR ROLES IN THE FULFILMENT OF GOD’S PROMISES.
We attain our spiritual purpose when God becomes the centre of all we do. If we split our attention or have divided loyalty, there’s the likelihood that we might lose focus of our true calling in life. And by trying to live a different lifestyle especially the one in vogue, we cannot truly settle in our rightful position.
In his infinite mercy, God chose to bring his people back and settle them under the kingship of David in the first reading. He made a covenant of love with them; a covenant that will never end. This was a divine initiative. It was not the choice of the people.
“David my servant is to be their prince for ever. I shall make a covenant of peace with them, an eternal covenant with them. I shall resettle them and increase them; I shall settle my sanctuary among them for ever. I shall make my home above them; I will be their God, they shall be my people. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord, the sanctifier of Israel, when my sanctuary is with them for ever.”
However, the promise of God to the people of Israel took a process. It didn’t just happen instantly. That was one the reasons why those who were supposed to be God’s representatives were not able to understand the place of Jesus in that promise, even though the actions which they took in ignorance were still part of the unfolding of the promises. Irrespective of our mindset, no matter what we choose to believe, God continues to make himself known in the world and his work still continues in our midst. We need divine light to see God in action.
By the time the plot against Jesus had been hatched, Caiaphas made the statement which only he could understand literally but which was in agreement with God’s plan.
“You do not seem to have grasped the situation at all; you fail to see that it is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
“He did not speak in his own person, it was as high priest that he made this prophecy that Jesus was to die for the nation – and not for the nation only, but to gather together in unity the scattered children of God.”
The promise to unite the people of God was to be fulfilled in Jesus, though the people to whom the promise was made could not understand. They were fighting the one sent to set them free. Our life becomes more meaningful when it is marked by God’s words concerning us. It takes proper reflection to see how our life relates with his will.
May we fully and consciously be part of the unfolding of God’s promises in our time. Amen.
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