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Gospel Reflection for Saturday, April 12, 2025
Death and Life
Faced with all forms of evil, God’s attitude is to heal, restore, and give life. This dynamic is already evident in the Old Testament (contrary to what is sometimes thought or said). It is not God, but idolatry, the breaking of the Covenant, and sin that lead to the dispersion, division, exile, and death of the people. Yet, God’s response is to restore—to gather them again in the promised land, unite them as one people, purify them, and renew the Covenant as an eternal and universal one for all nations.
The ultimate expression of sin is death. Jesus has performed the great miracle of bringing His friend Lazarus back to life. However, this sign of God’s Kingdom among us, of His creative power working in Jesus, is perceived by some as a threat to their temporal authority. Their response is the definitive and final decision (made by the High Priest) to condemn Jesus to death.
What might seem like the triumph of evil over good, of death over life, is instead the very event that seals the eternal Covenant prophesied by Ezekiel. The death sentence pronounced by Caiaphas is not the final word; the ultimate authority belongs to God, who even uses Caiaphas to prophesy against his will. Jesus willingly gives His life to gather not only Israel (as Ezekiel referred to) and Judah but all of God’s children scattered across the nations and the ends of the earth.
Jesus prepares to return to Jerusalem. As His disciples, we must be ready to accompany Him, to witness His Passion, so that we may later proclaim His Resurrection. Tomorrow, Palm Sunday, we enter Holy Week—a pivotal moment in human history. “Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:2).
Warm regards,