4/4/2020 Lenten Luminaries
Posted on Apr 6, 2020
by ACS
[Many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.
But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what Jesus had done.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees
convened the Sanhedrin and said,
“What are we going to do?
This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation.”
But one of them, Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year, said to them,
“You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you
that one man should die instead of the people,
so that the whole nation may not perish.”
He did not say this on his own,
but since he was high priest for that year,
he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation,
but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
So from that day on they planned to kill him.
and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.
But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what Jesus had done.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees
convened the Sanhedrin and said,
“What are we going to do?
This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation.”
But one of them, Caiaphas,
who was high priest that year, said to them,
“You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you
that one man should die instead of the people,
so that the whole nation may not perish.”
He did not say this on his own,
but since he was high priest for that year,
he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation,
but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
So from that day on they planned to kill him.
So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews,
but he left for the region near the desert,
to a town called Ephraim,
and there he remained with his disciples.
Now the Passover of the Jews was near,
and many went up from the country to Jerusalem
before Passover to purify themselves.
They looked for Jesus and said to one another
as they were in the temple area, “What do you think?
That He will not come to the feast?”] (Jn. 11:45-56)
The stage is set. Jesus is going to die in a few short days. All that is needed is a catalyst, an opportunity for the Jewish leaders to nab Him. They’ve had enough of this Jesus character, and they have decided to kill Him. The question is, will Jesus show up? Will He make an appearance, providing an occasion for the authorities to arrest Him?
The Jewish leaders, the common people, and possibly the Romans are on high alert for Jesus. Is He coming to the feast or is He not? Most, if not all, have heard about the miracle worker Who is hated by the authorities. Where is He?
What about the stage of our own hearts? Are we on the lookout yet for Jesus this week?. Take some time today and ask our Lord for the grace to be watchful for Jesus, the Lamb of God. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29).