Daily Readings - Sat Apr 13 2019
Ezekiel
21And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take up the sons of Israel, from the midst of the nations to which they have gone, and I will gather them together on every side, and I will lead them onto their own soil22And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will be ruler over all. And they will no longer be two nations, nor will they be divided any more into two kingdoms23And they will no longer be defiled by their idols, and by their abominations, and by all their iniquities. And I will save them, out of all the settlements in which they have sinned, and I will cleanse them. And they will be my people, and I will be their God24And my servant David shall be the king over them, and they shall have one shepherd. They shall walk in my judgments, and they shall keep my commandments, and they shall do them25And they shall live upon the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your fathers lived. And they shall live upon it, they and their sons, and the sons of their sons, even for all time. And David, my servant, shall be their leader, in perpetuity26And I will strike a covenant of peace with them. This will be an everlasting covenant for them. And I will establish them, and multiply them. And I will set my sanctuary in their midst, unceasingly27And my tabernacle shall be among them. And I will be their God, and they will be my people28And the Gentiles shall know that I am the Lord, the Sanctifier of Israel, when my sanctuary will be in their midst, forever.
John
45Therefore, many of the Jews, who had come to Mary and Martha, and who had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in him46But certain ones among them went to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus had done47And so, the high priests and the Pharisees gathered a council, and they were saying: "What can we do? For this man accomplishes many signs48If we leave him alone, in this way all will believe in him. And then the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation.49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, since he was the high priest that year, said to them: "You do not understand anything50Nor do you realize that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the entire nation should not perish.51Yet he did not say this from himself, but since he was the high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation52And not only for the nation, but in order to gather together as one the children of God who have been dispersed53Therefore, from that day, they planned to put him to death54And so, Jesus no longer walked in public with the Jews. But he went into a region near the desert, to a city which is called Ephraim. And he lodged there with his disciples55Now the Passover of the Jews was near. And many from the countryside ascended to Jerusalem before the Passover, so that they might sanctify themselves56Therefore, they were seeking Jesus. And they conferred with one another, while standing in the temple: "What do you think? Will he come to the feast day?57And the high priests and Pharisees had given an order, so that if anyone would know where he may be, he should reveal it, so that they might apprehend him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope, unity, and the profound mystery of God’s plan. The first reading from Ezekiel paints a vivid picture of a restored Israel, where God gathers His scattered people and establishes an everlasting covenant of peace. This vision of unity and redemption was a beacon of hope for the Israelites, who were then in exile, longing for a return to their homeland and a renewed relationship with their God. Ezekiel’s prophecy speaks of a time when division and suffering will give way to harmony and divine presence, with God’s sanctuary forever in their midst.
The Gospel reading from John shifts our focus to the growing tension surrounding Jesus. After the miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection, belief in Jesus spreads, but so does opposition. The Pharisees and high priests fear losing their power and their nation, leading them to plot Jesus’ death. Caiaphas, the high priest, unknowingly prophesies the heart of God’s plan: Jesus will die not only for the nation of Israel but to gather all God’s children into one. This passage reveals the depth of God’s love and the cost of unity, as Jesus’ sacrifice becomes the means by which all people are brought together under one Shepherd.
These readings remind us that unity and redemption are at the heart of God’s plan. Ezekiel’s vision of a restored Israel finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who gathers not just the scattered people of Israel but all humanity into one family through His death and resurrection. As we reflect on these passages, let us ask ourselves: How do we work toward unity in our own lives and communities? How do we embrace the sacrifices required to love and serve others as Jesus did? May we trust in God’s plan, even when it involves darkness and difficulty, knowing that His love ultimately triumphs. Let us strive to live as children of God, walking in His ways and keeping His commandments, so that we may truly be one people, united in Him.