DAILY- HOMILY

MARCH 31, 2012
SATURDAY 5TH WEEK OF LENT – YEAR II

Ezk 37:21-28 / Jn 11:45-56

EZEKIEL 37:21-28
You will then say to them: Thus says Yahweh: I am about to withdraw
the Israelites from where they were among the nations. I shall gather
them from all around and bring them back to their land. I shall make
them into one people on the mountains of Israel and one king is to be
king of them all. They will no longer form two nations or be two
separate kingdoms, nor will they defile themselves again with their
idols, their detestable practices and their sins. I shall free them
from the guilt of their treachery; I shall cleanse them and they will
be for me a people and I shall be God for them. My servant David will
reign over them, one shepherd for all. They will live according to my
laws and follow and practice my decrees. They will settle in the land
I gave to my servant Jacob where their ancestors lived. There they
will live forever, their children and their children's children. David
my servant will be their prince forever. I shall establish a covenant
of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I shall settle them and
they will increase and I shall put my sanctuary in their midst
forever. I shall make my home at their side; I shall be their God and
they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh
who makes Israel holy, having my sanctuary among them forever."

JOHN 11:45-56
Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they
saw what he did; but some went to the Pharisees and told them what
Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together
the Council. They said, "What are we to do? For this man keeps on
giving miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, all the people
will believe in him and, as a result of this, the Romans will come and
destroy our Holy Place and our nation." Then one of them, Caiaphas,
who was High Priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all, nor
do you see clearly what you need. It is better to have one man die for
the people than to let the whole nation be destroyed." In saying this
Caiaphas did not speak for himself, but being High Priest that year,
he foretold like a prophet that Jesus would die for the nation, and
not for the nation only, but also would die to gather into one the
scattered children of God. So, from that day on, they were determined
to kill him. Because of this, Jesus no longer moved about freely among
the Jews. He withdrew instead to the country near the wilderness, and
stayed with his disciples in a town called Ephraim. The Passover of
the Jews was at hand, and people from everywhere were coming to
Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. They looked for
Jesus and, as they stood in the Temple, they talked with one another,
"What do you think? Will he come to the festival?"

REFLECTION
The prophet Ezekiel lived at the time the people of Israel were
dispersed by their Babylonian conquerors after the first destruction
of Jerusalem. For the Israelites, living in exile was the end of the
world. Everything they held dear – their land, the Temple and its
sacred vessels – were taken away or destroyed. At this time of their
deepest depression, God through His prophet Ezekiel, comforts His
people, giving them hope.

In the same way, God speaks to the community of the beloved disciple
and also to us through the liturgy. The community of John was also
facing persecution from the Jewish and Roman authorities. However,
there was one thing that differentiated the Jews and us from the
ancient Israelites of Ezekiel's time. We are living after the
incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the living Word of
God. He is our hope. In Ezekiel, God speaks to us of His faithfulness
and love for His people. In John's Gospel, we can see that even
Caiaphas could have been used as an instrument by God to prophesy on
His plan of salvation even if his purpose was very much different from
God's. Surely, God whose love is steadfast and never changing is still
speaking to us as He had been doing to the Israelites during the time
of Ezekiel and to John's community. What is God telling us in the
present local situation in our families and our country?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Tung-Jou Sheh
- Elena, Michael G, Josh, Brian, JT, Mary Ann, Linda O, Delores, Gene
L
- Mon Torres
- Rakkie Villa
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo
- Mark Weber
- Bud Larson
- Ditas dela Paz
… for the personal intentions of
- Dana, Eugene R, Rita & Pam & Ben, Darlene
- Pauline
- Dr Ugonna Anyaugo, Ogechi Anyaugo, Barr & Mrs Obinna Okoronkwo,
Ifeanyi Matts Anyaugo, Chuba Osy Anyaugo, Cordelia Anyaugo
- Fred de Leon
- Ising Gonzales
… In Memoriam:
- Louise Cleveland, Selma Stockstill, Kathy Fortenberry, Al Gowins,
Tony Miller, Roy Billet, Jimmy
- Chief & Ezinne Paul Ezekwe, Nneoma Rose Anyaugo, Laura Ezekwe &
other deceased members of Anyaugo & Ezekwe families
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Milton Villafuerte
- Thanksgiving: Jeff, Gloria, Justin & Queenie Real
- In Memoriam (+): Miguel L. Quiros & Cesar L. Lopez
- In Memoriam (+): Leticia Tung
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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