Breaking the Word

5^th week in Lent, Saturday – 23^rd March 2024 – Ezekiel 37,21-28; Jn 11,45-57

Redemptive Death

Jesus’ act of giving life to Lazarus leads to his own life being taken away. The raising of Lazarus provoked a divided response among the people: many believed in Jesus, and others went to inform the religious authorities of Jerusalem what Jesus had done. At the meeting of the council, the authorities expressed fear that Jesus and his followers might provoke a revolt.  Caiaphas, the high priest, accuses the council of being unable to understand the gravity of the situation. Fearing that he would lose power and everything he had, Caiaphas designs a strategy. His words challenge his listeners to get rid of Jesus so that the nation will not suffer. However, being high priest, Caiaphas’ words of political convenience were understood by his listeners to be message from God as well. John the evangelist seizes the high priest’s prophetic words to explain the fuller significance of Jesus’ death. Caiaphas, with his shrewdness and without knowingly, proclaimed that the death of Jesus would be redemptive both for the Jewish people and for all people. His death would not only save God’s people but would unify all who believe into a single-fold. By his death and resurrection, Jesus will bring salvation, holiness and renewed relationship with all people.

5^th week in Lent, Friday – 22^nd March 2024 – Jeremiah 20,10-13; Jn 10,31-42

Confident Prophet

Unique among the prophets, Jeremiah shares not only his message, but also details of his experience as a messenger. He senses mounting opposition against him and his proclamation of God’s Word. The prophet is attacked and denounced on all sides by his own people and friends and his struggles are displayed for all to see. Hiding from neither God, himself, nor friends, Jeremiah refuses to be silenced by anyone who would rather turn away, by anyone who would prefer to reject him and tune out his message. But Jeremiah has confidence in his God and believes firmly that his attackers will not prevail: “The Lord is at my side… my opponents will stumble, mastered and confounded by their failure.” He is a confident prophet, who believes in his God of justice and truth, a God who is on the side of the needy and oppressed. Jeremiah knew that truth and justice will triumph ultimately, no matter how profound the human trails may be. His total trust and dependence on God made him not to be afraid of those who merely kill his body.