SATURDAY 27TH MARCH 2021
FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
Ezekiel 37:21-28
John 11:45-56
IT IS BETTER FOR HIM TO DIE ON OUR BEHALF THAN FOR US ALL TO PERISH
There is a saying that if you want to kill a dog, you give it a bad name. People find good reasons to justify what they have done or are about to do. If you hate someone so much, nothing of what he/she does, no matter how good it is, will make any good sense to you. You will always read negative meanings into whatever they do.
In the gospel reading of today, we see that the Jews are looking at Jesus with scorn and disdain despite the good things he was doing. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, and many people came to rejoice with the family, but that was a moment of worry for the scribes and pharisees. They felt that Jesus was becoming too popular among the people and needs to be eliminated.
The words of Caiaphas in the gospel reading is very prophetic. The Jews are ready to kill Jesus not because of what he has done or fear of the Romans, but so that all of us will not perish. Jesus therefore is ready to die on our behalf, and tomorrow, he will see him enter triumphantly into Jerusalem for that purpose.
Lord, help us to appreciate the death of Jesus on our behalf by the way we live our lives. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP
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