Homily 5th Saturday of Lent

5^th Saturday in Lent                                                              04/13/2019

Introduction

So today both the Old Testament reading as well as the Gospel speak of the in-gathering of the dispersed children of God. After the various exiles and invasions, the people of Israel were actually spread throughout the world

In Ezekiel God proclaims that he will take the children of Israel from throughout the world and bring them back to their land. It is almost written as an aside in the Gospel reading but here too it mentions that Jesus was going to die to bring the children of God together.

Messianic Prophecies

These declarations are very important to the Messianic prophesies. One of these promises was this bringing together again all of Israel. It is interesting to think about it, but we see, even through man’s evil intentions at times, we do have God’s will being done For we have seen through our whole lives how God is able to make good out of a supposed bad. Let’s face it, He was nailed to a cross and killed… bringing with it the redemption of the entire world.

Religious Groups

Caiaphas’ statement was so right… Unfortunately, he didn’t have the full understanding of what he was saying. 

Of the two main religious groups we should know that The Sadducees were the influential political group there in Jerusalem in those days.  The Pharisees just wanted to live every detail of the law.  They had no care about the politics, but simply wanted to live their lives as God taught. The Sadducees, though were on the other side.. it was the politics that mattered to them. Keep Rome happy and they could keep their cushy jobs and cash flow…. I dare say they are not the only ones in history who practiced a, ummm shall we say “Risk Management” mentality.

High Priest

Caiaphas married into a very political family.  His father in Law was High priest 30 years earlier and his brothers in law at one time or another were also high priests.  Before him. Perhaps one of the most influential families at the time, perhaps ever.

Though the Sanhedrin that was gathered contained both the Sadducees and the Pharisees… we must note that it is only the Sadducees who spoke and the specific person talking was Caiaphas.

As mentioned in the reading Caiaphas was the high priest and as such was regarded as the mouthpiece of God.

In one of the most ironic twists, Caiaphas called it… It is better that this one man Jesus should die so that the nation should not die. Looking back 2000 years and looking at the crucifix here… He definitely got that wording right. It is better that Jesus die for the good of Israel. And what good he would do.

Fulfilling the Gathering Prophecy

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy here and others as well.  He gathered the people of the nation’s together just as Ezekiel said. It is an idea that is used numerous times in Scripture. And was extremely important to those searching for the Messiah.

And He is the head of that in gathering of nations that is talked about. He is actually wed to this in gathering, His Bride, the Church. The Church he established with Peter as its head.  The church which indeed all of us are now a part of.

His gathering though did not end there, for Jesus gave us the sacraments. As he gathers the entire world together, he understands our needs. For our ongoing nourishment he gave us the sacraments such as the Eucharist.  Jesus knew that without the true sacraments, he gave us, you would see a re-scattering of the nations. By being true to God and his commandments we stay together with His sacraments and his Church

We will see in the coming week, in particular, how many prophetic utterances are made by the enemies of Jesus.  Each one adding more and more to our understanding of God and the way He works.   He gave us a church, the sacraments and our very own life. Yes, they did in fact take His life, but in return we each have received our own life, ready to live with the guidance he gave to us all.

A link to today’s readings follows from the U.S.C.C.B. site. Readings