5th Week of Lent - Saturday C

Today’s readings invite us into this journey by reflecting on the themes of redemption, and the loving presence of God among us. Ezekiel vividly illustrates how God will gather His scattered people and bring them together under one shepherd. This shepherd is none other than Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the Father’s promise. His coming will usher in an age where all will be invited to be a privileged and blessed member of the Body of Christ. During Holy Week, we will witness the lengths to which Jesus goes to gather us to Himself in the events of the Passion, where He will face betrayal, suffering, and death. Yet, it is through that very suffering that He will gather humanity to Himself for all eternity.

In the Gospel reading, we see a similar theme emerging. The high priest Caiaphas, perhaps unknowingly, proclaims the necessity of Jesus’ death for the sake of the nation. His prophetic words reveal that Christ’s sacrifice is meant not just for the people of Israel, but for all of humanity—a call to being gathered into one family of God. As we celebrate Holy Week, we are invited to reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves: Are we open to being gathered with our brothers and sisters in faith? Do we recognize Jesus as the shepherd who guides us through trials and tribulations?

As we prepare to enter into the sacred days ahead, we remember that the week will start with Palm Sunday, where we will welcome Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Our hearts will resonate with joy, but soon we will transition to the somber atmosphere of His Passion, which will actually be triggered by a chain of events set in motion on Palm Sunday evening. When he and the apostles get to the temple, the Holy of Holies, late that Sunday afternoon, he sees the condition of the temple, the money changers, the absolute marketplace and den of thieves it has become, and because it is so late and having needed to head back to Bethany that evening, he planned on rectifying this problem the next day, on Monday of Holy Week. We will delve into this more deeply tomorrow. We will walk with Him through the Last Supper, the agony in the garden, His arrest, and ultimately, His crucifixion.

But let us not forget that this heart-wrenching journey does not end in despair. Holy Saturday will carry us from the darkness into the light of Easter Sunday, where we will rejoice in the Resurrection—the greatest act of love when Jesus conquered sin and death forever.

On this Saturday dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, we draw strength and encouragement as she accompanies us on this Lenten journey and through Holy Week. Saint Francis always saw in Mary, our Mother, a pillar of truth and strength, and in a word, a “masterpiece” of God’s grace. She becomes to us the most inspirational of all the saints, and in fact, their Queen and Holy companion even in eternity. Just as Mary stood at the foot of the cross, witnessing the unimaginable suffering of her beloved Son, she embodies the unwavering faith and hope we are called to possess during these holy days. Mary, in all her maternal love, guides us closer to her Son. She reminds us that even in sorrow, we can find trust in God’s plan for our redemption.

Therefore, as we approach Holy Week, let us look to Mary as our model of faith. May her intercession help us to navigate the path laid out before us, embracing both the joys and hardships of our faith. Let us quietly prepare our hearts, casting away the distractions and burdens that keep us from the new life God promises us.

In conclusion, dear friends, let us remember the promise of God’s presence as we approach the events of Holy Week. May we accept the invitation to be gathered into one family under Christ, our true shepherd. Let us walk with Mary, who leads us ever closer to her Son. As we journey through this sacred time, may our hearts be open to transformation, renewal, and the ultimate joy of the Resurrection.

Amen.