One Minute Reflection – 13 April – Saturday of the Fifth week of Lent, Year C – John 11:45–56
“…Jesus should die for the nation and not for the nation only
but to gather into one the children of God…”…John 11:51-52
REFLECTION – “Saint Paul states that “in these, the last days, God has spoken to us in his Son, whom He has established heir of all things.” (Heb 1:2) Now, doesn’t this sentence mean that the Father considered every person to form a part of Christ’s inheritance? It matches the prophecy of David: “Ask and I shall give you the nations as your heritage, that you may have dominion to the ends of the earth.” (Ps 2:8)
Our Lord Himself declares: “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to myself.” (Jn 12:32) Does it not appear that the salvation of every person is promised? Elsewhere we find a prophecy about the Church – “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be laid low, the rugged places shall become a plain and the highland a broad valley.” (Is 40,4). Does it seem as though anyone has been forgotten or has not been chosen here as one of Christ’s subjects? And what should we think when we read: “All flesh shall come and bow low before me; they will worship me in Jerusalem, says the Lord” (cf. Is 66:23)…
And so the term “people of God” is to be understood in all its fullness. No matter if the majority of people refuse or neglect the Saviour’s grace, it is the whole that is indicated by the words “elect” and “predestined”… The apostle Paul also says: “We proclaim a crucified Jesus Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and folly for pagans… but the power and wisdom of God.” (1Cor 1:23-24) Would Christ be “the power and wisdom of God” in the eyes of the same people for whom he is “a stumbling block” and “folly”? In fact, since certain people are saved because of their faith while others are hardened in their unbelief, the apostle included both faithful and unfaithful under the general term of “chosen”. Thus he showed that those whom he counted as pagans had become strangers to God’s call even though they had heard the Gospel.”…St Prosper of Aquitaine (c 390-c 455)
PRAYER – Lord our God, at all times, You are working out the salvation of man but now, more especially, You enrich Your people with grace. Look kindly on this people, Lord our God and lead us to Yourself. Listen to the prayers of your angels and saints, who intercede on our behalf and may our Immaculate Mother, accompany us on our journey home. We make our prayer through our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God for all eternity, amen.
AnaStpaul 