09/04/2022

John tells us that the crucifixion of Jesus was not off the cuff but well prepared for by the the Chief Priests. "It is bettter for one man to die for the people" is still remembered and quoted to this day. Jesus the Nazarene was also the subject of gossip and rumour in the market- places and streets of Jerusalem. 

Was there anybody who had not heard that the Lazarus who had been dead and buried for four days had walked from his tomb still wrapped in his burial cloths at the behest of this man? Would he show up in the Temple on the most important days of their Jewish calendar? Were the words of scripture about to be repeated again and would a Son of David come to rule them? Would a new Moses sent by God lead them back to their freedom from Gentile rule?

The leaders of the Temple who knew, in their closeness to the political power of Herod and the representative of the Emperor in distant Rome, that the happenings of the days of the Maccabees could be repeated if there was even a hint of rebellion, claimed to be acting in the interests of their Jewish nation to save them from the results of rebellion. The High Priests are also human and were probably wise according to the wisdom of the world. Father Son and Holy Spirit know that the happenings in Jerusalem are necessary for the sins of the world to be be forgiven and in the Gospels the record of this forgiveness has been preserved.

We can read these remembrances of true events and wonder about the ways of our God for everything that happens in our world is the result of our freedom which we have to live out within the bounds prescibed by our heavenly Father, the "Dad" of Jesus and ours too.

Dear Lord nothing that we do or say or even think is unknown to you. You have created us to share in the Love that you are.Help me this day to reflect this love and  to bring pain to no-one. May Mary and all the saints keep my family in their prayers.Let faith hope and charity be my mainstays this day and as my time runs out help me to be true to you, my Lord and my God.