Daily Readings - Sat Apr 04 2020
Ezekiel
21And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:22And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:23Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.24And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.25And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.27My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.28And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
John
45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.46But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.47Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.53Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.54Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.55And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.56Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?57Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful visions of unity and redemption. Ezekiel's prophecy paints a vivid picture of a restored Israel, where God's people are gathered from their dispersion and united under one shepherd, with an everlasting covenant of peace. This vision, born from the context of exile and despair, offers hope to a people yearning for redemption. It points to a future where God's sanctuary will dwell among them forever, symbolizing a profound unity and divine presence.
The Gospel shifts our focus to the growing tension surrounding Jesus. After the miracle of Lazarus's resurrection, belief in Jesus spreads, yet it also intensifies the opposition from the Pharisees and high priests. Caiaphas's prophetic statement, though born from political motives, unknowingly foretells Jesus's sacrificial death for the nation and the gathering of God's scattered children. This moment in John's narrative highlights the divine plan unfolding amidst human plotting, emphasizing Jesus's role as the unifying shepherd.
These readings converge in their themes of unity and divine shepherding. Ezekiel's vision of a restored Israel finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who through his death gathers not just Israel but all God's children into one flock. This unity is not merely physical but spiritual, achieved through faith in Jesus. In our daily lives, we are called to embrace this unity, recognizing that our bond in Christ transcends all divisions. The moral lesson here is one of selfless love and the pursuit of unity, even in the face of adversity, reflecting the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us. Let us strive to live as one body, united in love and faith, embodying the covenant of peace promised by God.