Power Paradox
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
John 11:45-57 - 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?”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“So from that day on they planned to kill Him.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Evil is hard at work. And we are making a very dangerous mistake if we do not heed this fact, because evil can cause great destruction. But there is something even more important to consider: God can take anything and use it for the cause of good. In this Gospel, the Sanhedrin is plotting to kill Jesus. Soon, they will be in league with the Romans in this plot. What neither of them know is that Satan is in on this plot with them as well. Yet, what they all least suspect is that in some mysterious way God is in on this plot too. And He will have the last laugh.
The killing of Jesus on the Cross is the greatest evil in the world. What its planners do not know, however, is that God will use exactly this to be the salvation of the world. He utterly stifles evil by making the Death of Christ the showcase of His glory—by rising from the dead and saving the world along with it. God can turn all things to good: yes, even our past mistakes, even our weakness, even our sins. This is the mystery of the Cross. In prayer, consider that God wants to take our greatest failings and make them into our greatest strengths.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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