Gathering the Dispersed: Unveiling God's Plan of Salvation
March 23, 2024 - Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Ezekiel 37:21-28; Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13; John 11:45-56
Reflecting on today's liturgy of the Word, I admire those who put the three readings together. At first glance, the two prophetic passages do not appear to have any connection with the Gospel. Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah share the same theme: the restoration and gathering of the people of Israel from among the nations. However, in the Gospel, Jesus is seen by the Sanhedrin - the highest authoritative and governing body in first-century Judaism - as a security risk.
Raising Lazarus was the last and the greatest sign Jesus performed during his ministry. It was only surpassed by Jesus’ resurrection. One could imagine that hearing about Lazarus coming out of the grave at the command of Jesus, everyone would come and believe in Christ. And yet, it was not to be. Instead, that greatest sign among all the signs performed by Jesus sealed his death. Caiaphas was appointed as a high priest by the Roman prefect Valerius Gratus in 18 AD and remained in that position for 18 years. Surprisingly, it was his political wisdom to sacrifice Jesus, so the whole nation would be spared, that provides a link between our three readings today.
The author of the Gospel sees in Caiaphas' statement "that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish" as a prophecy. “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.” And that gathering of the dispersed children of God into one is the main theme of the prophecy of Ezekiel and Jeremiah that we hear in the first reading and responsorial psalm. But, this gathering far surpasses what both prophets envisioned.
Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah dreamed about the gathering of the Jewish exiles from among the nations and establishing a united kingdom like in the time of David. But, the Lord has bigger plans than that. The history of salvation aims at gathering all nations into one family in the community of the Church. Moreover, neither Ezekiel nor Jeremiah foresaw that this gathering would take place through the sacrificial death of a mysterious servant of God. This truth was revealed to an anonymous prophet whose writings are included in the book of Isaiah (see Is 52:13-52:12). But even then, no one could have imagined that the redemption of Israel and all nations as well would be achieved through someone nailed to the cross.
Caiaphas unwittingly foretells that Jesus' mission has a broader, universal scope. Jesus’ saving death is not limited to one nation but embraces the entire world. Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). In Christ, the promise of gathering becomes a universal reality, where individuals from diverse backgrounds find commonality and salvation through faith in the crucified and risen Savior.