Immersed in Christ: March 27, 2021
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Ezekiel 37:21-28; Responsorial: Jeremiah 31:10-13; John 11:45-56
A Father Who Gathers Us
To gather into one the dispersed children of God. John 11:52
The Father sent Jesus to fulfill the promise Ezekiel delivered—of a father yearning to give his family the blessing of being one in faith and fidelity to the Covenant; with one ruler and one shepherd, in peaceful possession of a land where he would dwell with them and be their God, as they would be his people. The promise reveals the Father’s heart: the love of a father for his children.
The Father still wants to give us this, and sent Jesus to bring it about. But when the high priest pointed out the threat Jesus was to the Jewish hierarchy and the Pharisees, “from that day on they planned to kill him.” Jesus is a threat to those who want a partial good for themselves that excludes the rest of the people, such as those in power who use their position to serve themselves instead of the community.
But God used Christ’s death “to gather into one the dispersed children of God”—into the Church: “one flock with one shepherd” (John 10:16).
The Father wants the Church to be for us a place of unity, joy and peace, “with Jesus himself as cornerstone… in whom all are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God” (Ephesians 2:20) and experience together the Father’s goodness and love.
ACTION: Make Mass the experience the Father wants it to be.
PRAYER: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD! (Psalm 84:1).
Comments