SATURDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT, MARCH 28, 2026

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

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

"it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish"

Tension between human fear and divine trust is the driving force in what the Sanhedrin, the Chief Priests and the Pharisees are doing. Do they trust in Divine Providence or give in to their human anxiety? There were so many signs, the prophetic proclamations of the coming Messiah, and Jesus Himself proclaiming that He is the Son of God. Worldly power, ownership of land and comfort, loss of their influence over the people by their way of thinking and teaching were the reasons they sought to destroy Jesus. There were no prayer meetings asking God for guidance in their decisions. No recitation of the Psalms, or opinions voiced against the chief high priest.

As they are plotting, Jesus the Christ, calmly moves toward His self emptying sacrifice inviting all believers to trust in the Divine Will of His Father. Are we ready to give up all our anxieties and worries and surrender to God?

There are times that out of stubbornness we refuse to admit a truth and prefer to go down fighting than to let humility win. We have to make decisions every day. May we always ask God His will and "make the best decisions in our lives by being the best people we can be, as Sons and Daughters of God and Temples of the Holy Spirit". (Father Kevin Moley, C.Ss.R)

Even the darkest moments when given to God will lead us to a new life.

God Bless You