Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today’s first reading, Psalm, and Gospel all have the theme of unity. The prophet Ezekiel in the first reading talked about the reunification of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah under God. The Responsorial Psalm referred to God as a shepherd who gathers a scattered flock of sheep. Caiaphas the high priest in the Gospel prophesied that Jesus’ death will unify people.
What does this mean in our seemingly divided world? There are many divisions, some of which are socioeconomic, racial and ethnic, sexual orientation, political views, differing opinions, etc. It seems that people’s perspectives are growing more distant and people don’t see eye to eye. With humanity’s history of wars and schisms and our own personal experiences of disagreements and conflicts with others, peace is a continual lesson for us to learn.
However, if, as today’s readings imply, God is a unifier, a shepherd who brings together sheep from many different places, how can we learn peace from God? 1 John 4:8-12 can give us insight:
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
God as love is what will unite us. We are called to love our neighbor throughout the year, but as we look forward to Holy Week, we can make this a time when we focus on how we can love others so that we can rise to a new life with Jesus Christ at Easter.
—Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI