GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the 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?”

The word of the Lord

 

What Do We Do?

In this Gospel we see the reaction of the people who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus. Faced with this sign, many believed in Jesus, but others, seeing the very same thing, closed their hearts and rejected Him. They were not indifferent — they decided to put Him to death.

Before Jesus there are only two possible attitudes: to welcome Him or to reject Him. Which is mine? Do I welcome Him and believe in Him with all the consequences that entails, or do I look for excuses and reject Him? Because God’s logic is so far from human logic that welcoming Him means making a radical change in my life — a change that leads me somewhere I do not control, that goes against my own criteria, that alters my plans, that pulls me out of my comfort zone. Am I willing to embark on that adventure, or do I prefer to control my own life and, in doing so, reject Him and put Him to death in my heart?

In our marriage, the Lord performs many signs, but if our hearts are not attentive and ready to recognise Him, those signs pass unnoticed. Husbands and wives, let us stay awake so that we may see the signs of Jesus and welcome Him. Let us trust Him, for He has promised us immense and eternal happiness. And the Lord always fulfils His Word.

 

Applied to Married Life

Paula: Nick, what do you think about helping at a retreat next weekend instead of going to the little house in the mountains?

Nick: But Paula, my love, you know we’ve had that getaway planned for weeks — and I’ve really been looking forward to it. Why the sudden change?

Paula: It’s just that Sandra called me. She said a married couple were going to help out, but the husband has fallen ill and now they won’t be able to go.

Nick: And has she asked us to go?

Paula: No, she hasn’t, actually. But she sounded worried and a bit overwhelmed, and I thought maybe we could offer ourselves — perhaps it’s a sign that we’re meant to go.

Nick: The very weekend we were going to the mountains?

Paula: Well, you know God’s plans rarely match ours, and they always unsettle us a bit. How about we take it to prayer?

Nick: But what if another couple has already offered to go in their place?

Paula: Then it’ll mean it isn’t God’s will for us to go this time, and we’ll head to the mountains… how does that sound?

Nick: Alright, fine — let’s pray about it. Because it’s true: when God calls and you say yes, He fills you with blessings, and I wouldn’t want to miss out on them…

(And in prayer they decided to place it in the hands of the Virgin. They would offer themselves the next day and, if no one else had filled the gap, they would go to the retreat, postponing their mountain getaway for another time.)

 

Mother,

Teach us to live attentive to the signs of God, and to submit our will, always ready to do whatever is necessary to fulfil the plans He has for us, just as you did, always welcoming His will. Blessed and glorious are you, Mother. May the Lord be praised for ever.