Homily for Saturday - Fifth Week of Lent, Year II

First Reading: Ez 37:21–28

Responsorial Psalm: Jer 31:10, 11–12abcd, 13

Gospel: Jn 11:45–56

Seminarian Residence Chapel, Crowley, TX

            I find it fascinating that in the readings today, the deepest, most prophetic words given to us are not by the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah, but by the high priest, Caiaphas. Thinking he is making a political calculation, trying to avert what he sees as a threat to the power structure of the Sanhedrin and preserve the Jewish people under Roman occupation, Caiaphas instead utters a truth more profound than he could have imagined: “It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” (Jn 11:50) We know of course, that this is precisely what happened. Jesus gave up his life on the cross to save not just one nation, but all nations and to draw all people to himself.

            Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah today prophesy about this drawing of the people together under a future descendant of David. This Prophetic restoration eschatology was part of the background for Jewish hope for a messiah^[1] every Jew waited for. Ezekiel in particular was writing to the scattered Jewish peoples, exiled from their homeland. They could no longer offer sacrifice in the Temple. They felt their very identity as a people was being threatened. In the midst of this tragedy, God sent his prophets to bring hope to his and to speak to the time when he would call them all home to himself, united once again as his chosen people.

How closely these readings parallel the tragic situation today. Our faithful are essentially ‘exiled’ from our physical parishes and unable to be present and participate in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Both prophets’ words still offer hope to our faithful. Ezekiel tells of God’s promise to bring his people back to where they belong following their period of trial and draw them back together in himself. (Ez 37:21-22) In the responsorial, Jeremiah echoes this offering of hope for us, telling of God’s promise to turn our mourning into joy, showering us with compassion after our sorrows. (Jer 31:13).

            Jesus offered his life on the cross for all of us so that he could draw us together in himself. Right now, quarantining and social distancing causes us to feel like we are in some sort of captivity. It is an all too real truth that our faithful are in a sort of exile from our parishes. But, the promise of God still rings true. When all this is over, and it will be over, he will again gather us as his people, we will return to our parishes to celebrate the Mass together, Jesus will fill us with his compassion, and our mourning will be turned into joy!

St. Joseph, Most Faithful, Pray for Us!

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^[1] Francis Martin and William M. Wright IV, The Gospel of John, ed. Peter S. Williamson and Mary Healy, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015), 213.