A reading from the holy Gospel according to 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?”
REFLECTION:
“Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.”
As we approach Holy Week, we are reminded in the Gospel how the Jews were divided and deeply concerned about Jesus’s teachings and abundant miracles. The outrage of the Pharisees and the confusion of the Jews are noted as they approached Passover, their holiest religious celebration.
I find it very profound how some of the Jews approached Mary, and some approached the Pharisees to find answers. The Jews who went to Mary, the woman who shared Jesus’s blood and brought forth his flesh, believed in Jesus. They went to a first-hand source to answer their questions. She knew all there was to know about him and would speak the truth. I believe she told them the stories of Jesus’s conception, birth and his ministry. She explained God’s plan of salvation, always pointing to her Son. Her humility, wisdom, love and faith in God were revealed in these encounters.
The Jews who searched for answers from the Pharisees seemed to find only fear and pride. The Pharisees were afraid of their religion being ripped from their grasp by the Romans. Their superior attitude led them to choose to remove the threat, instead of embracing the truth and accepting the change.
Some may ask why do we need Mary to find Jesus? Our immutable God chose to bring our salvation through her as the Mother of God. And so, His desire to provide us a heavenly mother to lead us to Christ remains. Through the centuries, Mary’s vocation in God’s plan of salvation has never changed. She will always be a first-hand source for us to learn more about Christ. She only helps us on our path to salvation by leading us to her son, Jesus. We just have to go to Mary and ask her for help.
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