The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, April 8, 2006
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezekiel 37:21-28
Jeremiah 31:10-13
John 11:45-56

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"That one man should die instead of the people. . ."

If Caiaphas had only known that his plea for political savvy was actually a prediction of the greatest action in the history of the world, what might he have done? Think about it--Caiaphas correctly anticipated that if this one man should die, the people would not. He was acting as a prophet despite his own evil inclinations. What would have happened could he have heard his own words?

We are the blessed people who stand in a place to receive his words. We now know that Jesus came so that no one might "die," that is, be eternally separated from God the Father. The true death is the separation from God in the vastness of eternity. God wills that all should come to Him, but so many do not know Him.

Jesus died for all. This week we once again celebrate in history what was enacted in eternity--our Salvation story. We do well to remember the prophetic words of Caiaphas and to let the world know how right he was. God saw the wisdom and the mercy in ordaining One to die that all might be saved. May it be our prayer that the salvific act of Jesus be made manifest throughout the world. May the glory of the Lord shine through us to all the people who do not know Him and through us may His mercy, grace, and blessing come to each of them.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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