What Do You Think?

April 4, 2009

Saturday of the Fifth Week in Lent

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. Ezekiel 37:26-27

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?” John 11:55-56

Piety

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. Amen. (A Carmelite Prayer)

Study

“What’s the buzz? Tell me what’s a-happening?”

The plot thickens. The gossip in the corridors of the temple begins. The tension has built up in recent weeks and days after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The people have become divided. Jesus is the sword that divides the people into two camps: those who believe that Jesus brings new life and those who do not.

In light of the seventh sign in the raising of Lazarus, the chief priests were worried about two things: 1) that the people would follow Jesus – not them; and 2) if the people turned to Jesus, the Romans would suppress their religion. With this revelation, the “end game” begins as the plot to take care of Jesus picks up momentum.

The Jewish people expect to see each other at the temple for purification during Passover. They now start to wonder. Will Jesus show up for the ultimate confrontation with the “powers that be?” Or maybe the question is will the “powers who think they be” show up for the confrontation with Jesus?

How far have we come since the prophecy of Ezekiel? Where do we find the “covenant of peace” in John’s Gospel? Where do we find the Jewish people in an “everlasting” relationship with the Lord? Where has Jesus fled for sanctuary because he can not find a home in Jerusalem?

How far have we come since the prophecy of Ezekiel? Where do we find the “covenant of peace” in our world today? Is it in the “Holy Land?” Is it in our hearts? Where do we find ourselves in an “everlasting” relationship with the Lord? Where has Jesus fled for sanctuary because he can not find a home in our hearts?

Hang on, Lord. We’re gonna’ fight for you. Just let us take our nap first.

Action

Which camp are you ready to join: the camp which believes in the resurrection and follows Jesus or the one that does not believe?