“He was crucified on behalf of us all and for the sake of us all, so that, when one had died instead of all, we all might live in him.”
READ: JOHN 11:45–57
Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what he did believed in him, but some of them went to tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting. “Here is this man working all these signs,” they said, “and what action are we taking? If we let him go on in this way everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy the Holy Place and our nation.” One of them, Caiaphas, the high priest that year, said, “You don’t seem to have grasped the situation at all; you fail to see that it is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” He did not speak in his own person, it was as high priest that he made this prophecy that Jesus was to die for the nation — and not for the nation only, but to gather together in unity the scattered children of God. From that day they were determined to kill him. So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews, but left the district for a town called Ephraim, in the country bordering on the desert, and stayed there with his disciples. The Jewish Passover drew near, and many of the country people who had gone up to Jerusalem to purify themselves looked out for Jesus, saying to one another as they stood about in the Temple, “What do you think? Will he come to the festival or not?” The chief priests and Pharisees had by now given their orders: anyone who knew where he was must inform them so that they could arrest him.
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
The Pharisees appear monstrous to us. Yet we can be just like them. When we are stuck in our sins or wallowing in self-centeredness, the good deeds of others agitate us; they prick our conscience. We try to stamp them out. We try to minimize them. Instead of rejoicing in goodness wherever we find it, we resent it, and we rejoice instead in our neighbor’s fall, since it brings him down to our level. Christ is never like that with us. The more we experience His unquenchable generosity toward us, the more it will purify our stinginess and free us to love our neighbors as He does.
Jesus: Do you think I despised these corrupt men who countenanced my death and scattered my sheep? How could I? They were as much my sheep as the others. They were more lost than the others, and I longed for their hearts to turn around and come to me. It was for them that I went to the Cross. They needed to see the extent of my love for them; they needed to see that nothing they could do to me was able to stop me from loving them. Rest in my heart for a moment now, and see how I love those who hate and persecute me. Since you know that I am always with you, always loving and guiding and protecting you, you have the strength to do the same.
RESPOND
Thinking about Your providence fills my soul with peace. I know that You are always watching over me and guiding me and those around me. In some hidden way, the many Good Fridays of human history, and of my story, will all erupt into Easter Sundays. You are my Father, and in addition to loving me intensely and tenderly, You hold the reins of the universe and put everything at the service of that love.
How do I react to difficulties and opposition in life? How did You react? You accepted them, and You continued steadfastly on the path of the Father’s will. Why do they upset me so much? Jesus, increase my faith.
REST
Lord Jesus, I can barely keep myself from lashing out at colleagues who show up late. How can I learn to love actual enemies, people who willfully destroy reputations and good works? And how can I refrain from criticizing those who exert their energy and influence in resisting Your action and Your Spirit? Teach me the science of the cross, Lord, and teach me the lesson of Christlike love.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
