Daily Reflections ...

In recent days we’ve been reading of the escalating tensions between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus is at times provocative and offensive to them, and on various occasions, they want to kill him. Today, this tension reaches boiling point. They’re not listening to Jesus’ teaching anymore, but they hear about his success: “Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did believed in him.” The Pharisees call a meeting to discuss how to respond to this, and when the high priest speaks, the matter is settled. Caiaphas says, “It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed”, and from that day, they were determined to kill Jesus.

A fascinating thing to consider is the situation from the disciples’ standpoint. At that moment, the Pharisees’ decision to kill Jesus would have felt as though it was the worst thing that could have happened for the whole mission. They are now fugitives, and Jesus no longer goes out amongst the Jews. They were just building momentum; more were believing in Jesus and following him, and now this. 

Yet we find that God was at work in this event in ways not comprehended by those involved. God was working through the very priest who was condemning Jesus. Everything looked grim, the mission may have looked like it was coming to a grinding halt, but God was doing something more. Through the crucifixion, God was able to “gather together in unity the scattered children of God.” This is God’s providence. He can make all things work out for good (Rom 8:28).

In our own lives, we can see the same phenomenon. Life can get difficult, but God has a way of turning these difficulties on their head and bringing about something that we could never have imagined. 

Holy Spirit, be our comforter in the tough times, and grant us the faith and hope to trust that God is doing more than we can imagine.

by Dcn Peter Pellicaan