THE WORD IN LENT - Saturday, 5th week in Lent
March 27, 2021: Ezekiel 37: 21-28; John 11: 45-56
The readings today seem to give us a clue to understand the mission of the Son of God. As he himself announces, it is to gather into one all the dispersed children of God, dispersed geographically, spiritually, economically, politically and in every other way. Jesus is identified to be the son of David, promised in all eternity to gather not merely the two nations (Judah and Israel), but all dispersed children of God into one.
That is the call that Jesus our Master has passed on to every disciple of his. We
are called to be agents of unity and harmony, uniting people in love and
building a humanity that is joyful. If we are against such unity, even though merely
in thought or merely in a few single instances, we can be certain that we are
not in line with the mission of the Saviour. He would say, 'if you don't gather
with me, you scatter!' (cf. Lk 11:23; Mt 12:30).
It is saddening to see some, even within the Church and
within the category of being the shepherds of the flock, spreading division and
hatred, sometimes. How hypocritical of those persons to call themselves people
of God, much worse, shepherds of the people of God! The Spirit of Christ unites
and if I have the Spirit within me, I have to unite!
The only division that can be is the division between the
good and the evil…nothing else is a division that comes from the Spirit of the
Lord. And if I think of justifying, that is why I wish to divide from those
people who are evil, who gave me the right to ‘judge’ a person as evil. Sin is
to be shunned, not sinner. Division cannot be justified in the sight of the
Lord.
The real question is, how committed am I to true peace, harmony, love, and thus
to unity?