April 12

April 12, 2014:  Saturday, 5th week of Lent

Readings

• Ez 37:21-28  I'll gather Israel's children, bring them back to their land, and make them one; never again shall they defile themselves with idols and transgressions.  I'll deliver and cleanse them so they may be my people and I their God.  David shall be their prince; they shall live by my statutes.  Forever they'll live where their fathers did.  I'll make with them a covenant of peace, will multiply them, will put my sanctuary among them, and all shall know I'm the one who made Israel holy.

• Jer 31:10-12abcd, 13  "The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock."  The Lord shall ransom Jacob; he who scattered Israel now gathers them.  They'll come streaming to the Lord’s blessings.  I'll turn their mourning into joy.

• Jn 11:45-56  Many began to believe, but some went to the Pharisees, who said, “What are we to do?  If we leave him alone, all will believe, and we'll lose our nation.”  High priest Caiaphas:  “It's better for you that one man die, so that the nation may not perish.”  So from then on they planned to kill him, and Jesus no longer walked about in public.  Many who went up to Jerusalem for Passover looked for Jesus.

Pope Francis

• To physicians:  Don't lose sight of the human person, unity of body, soul, and spirit, created in God's image.  Sharing with the sick opens us to the beauty of fragile human life and the dignity of every human being.  Jesus takes on human suffering, which is then redeemed by God-Love.  Look to Christ for the only meaning of innocent suffering, and at the feet of the Cross meet Our Lady of Sorrows, Mother of all humanity, always close to her sick and suffering children.

• To historians:  History is life's teacher.  You're faced with the Church's history of evangelization, hopes, struggles, service, fidelity and infidelity, denials and sins. Your research can help discern what the Holy Spirit wants to say to the Church today.  Contribute to the dialogue between the Church and the modern world.  Nothing is lost by peace; everything may be lost by war.

Reflections

• Creighton:  Contrast the need to unite (1st reading) with the Sanhedrin's separation from Jesus (gospel).  It's easy for us to “divide” ourselves from each other and Christ, e.g., via gossip, criticism, or attachment to possessions.  Do I behave like the Sanhedrin, or am I united with Christ?  

• One Bread One Body:  Ezekiel prophesied that Israel and Judah would be united via God-ordained leadership.  Caiaphas unknowingly prophesied Jesus would die to gather the dispersed children of God, also effecting unity via a dying leader.  If we want unity in the world, church, community, or family, we must die, living the way of the cross.

• DailyScripture.net:  Do I allow opposition to hold me back from doing God's will?  St. Augustine:  "Jesus loved us so much that he suffered the punishment we deserved.  How then can the source of righteousness not reward us for our righteousness?  How can he fail to reward the saints when he bore the punishment of sinners?  Let us acknowledge and joyfully proclaim that Christ was crucified for us."

• Moved to greater love Jesuit reflection on union with Jesus on the way of the Cross:  Go out of yourself to where there's suffering, blindness. and evil; grace flourishes when we give ourselves and the Gospel to others.  Be shepherds living with sheeps' smell. (Chrism Mass homily, Pope Francis, 2013)  Where have I made a good return of God's love, and where can I make a more generous return?  How can I live more rooted in Christ?   How can I better serve  others?   

• Universalis:  St. Zeno of Verona, bishop

• Sacred Space

Music:  Passion Sunday preview (more tomorrow!)

• He was despisèd and He trusted in God, from Messiah/ Handel
• Jesus, the Lord/ O'Connor (2nd reading)
• At the name of Jesus/ Walker (2nd reading)
• And can it be that I should gain/ Wesley

Apparel

• "Children around the world" tie:  "I'll take the children of Israel from the nations" (1st reading)

• "2 interlocking rubies" tie bar:  God uniting Israel and Judah (1st reading)

• "Golden calf" tie pin:  "No longer shall they defile themselves with their idols" (1st reading)

• "Peace sign" tie bar:  "I'll make with them  them a covenant of peace" (1st reading)

• "Abacus" tie pin:  I'll 'multiply' them (1st reading); 'division' between Sanhedrin and Jesus (gospel); see instructions for how to multiply and divide on an abacus.

• "Sheep" tie bar:  God will guard us as a shepherd his flock; sheep among Lord's blessings (psalm)

• Crucifix:  “It's better that one die so that the whole nation may not perish.” (not the way Caiaphas intended) (gospel)

• Red shirt:  Holy Week preview

Dress your life!