Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 11, 45-56

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.

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?”

God works

1) Signs. This is the word John uses to refer to Jesus’ miracles. Today, more than ever, look at the miracle of your life as a sign, because your life is not yet fulfilled, and we still have a lot to do here on earth. You must keep discovering the signs that God is placing in your life. Today, what is the greatest sign that God has given you in your life?

2) To die. This means giving one’s life for what one loves. This is what differentiates us from an ideological movement. We do not give our life for a thought. We give our life for Jesus who is alive. We are called to keep on going, to strive with great effort, with optimism and strength. We cannot be Christians who preach condemnation and death. We proclaim life and Christ lives in us.

3) Peace. We are about to start Holy Week. Ask God for joy and peace in your heart. These are the two things we must resurrect, because many of us have lost them. God is at your side, do your part!

God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And remember, Heaven is our goal!