Gospel
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 raising of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary happened just before this text. Those who had come to Mary went there to see Lazarus alive.
It was a turning point. It was the penultimate event leading to his arrest and crucifixion.
The raising of one dead and the witness of so many, changes everything. Because so many came to believe in him the Pharisees were now worried about not only their position but the impact it would have with the Romans and the survival of the the nation of Israel itself. So, they decided then and there to kill him. His path now was set and led to the cross.
It is interesting that of those who went to Mary and found Lazarus alive some began to believe but some went to tell the Pharisees. So just as there are those who begin to believe in Jesus when they encounter the Gospel, there will be some who reject his Word and turn against him.
Many officials and others began to believe but would not speak up for fear. Even as they began to believe in him as the Messiah,, the Son of God, they still chose to put human praise over the glory of God.
It is the same today.
We might believe that if people just heard the good news and learned the truth of Gods love and the sacrifice of Jesus the redeemer, they would all turn toward God. But even today people come to believe and then turn away seeking the approval and good things of the world rather to receive the graces and blessings of God.
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. The day we celebrate when Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time and the people thronged to his entry and placed palm branches at his feet as a sign of honor.
These same people would turn away or be silent when he was arrested.
Will our Hosannas this Palm Sunday still be in our hearts by next Easter or will we turn back the world during the Holy Week of Easter.
Our belief is the first step, but it is not enough on its own. For we must seek to belong to Jesus Christ. His will and actions must become ours. We must knead the leaven of his Word and love in our hearts so we will rise with him when the substance of our lives is laid bare on the last days.
He must inspire our actions and decisions.
Our hearts must be open and malleable so he can send the Holy Spirit to reside in our hearts.
Our focus should be on him and him alone.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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