Life is Good

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Gospel of John 11:45-56

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them,“You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.”

Last week as I drove home from work, I noticed yet again another bumper sticker. On the spare tire placed on the back of a Jeep  displayed the familiar words "Life is Good!"

Lent 2015 has taught me that adopting a positive attitude really does change things around.  Yes, it's a hard thing to do especially when life throws all kinds of trash at unexpected times! Life really IS good when we believe in God and when we trust that he has everything under control even when our lives seem out of control.

Today's reading from the Gospel of John is very meaty.  It's one of those passages that places Jesus' crucifixion in a different perspective.  Naturally, we think the the Sanhedrin and priestly class hated Christ and wanted him dead because of that hate.  But, if we think about it more closely Christ's death is a result of tremendous fear on part of the priestly class.  We all know fear turns us into monsters!!  We want to protect ourselves from harm.  The Pharisees, Scribes and upper community of Jews wanted to protect themselves from takeover by the Romans. I wonder if the Jews may have feared exile like what happened to them during the Babylonian empire. Hmmm...

Isn't this Jesus of Nazareth in many ways a radical who just stirs up trouble with his blasphemy?  Isn't he a threat to the livelihood of the Chosen people?  Let us kill one man in order to save an entire nation.

Caiaphas was indeed very prophetic in his words.  He saw that killing one man in order to save thousands of people was the best option.  By contrast, the Father in heaven planned the same fate.  His Son would be crucified for the salvation of the whole world.

Jesus hid away in the desert with his disciples knowing all too well that his life was about to end.  What was he thinking?  Was he fearful?  Did he know how his life would eventually end? Sadly, the procession into Jerusalem on the Passover (Palm Sunday) would be the last scene of happiness in Our Lord's life...until his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Life is good!  Life is beautiful!  Life is worth cherishing!  Christ died for our sins in order to open up the eternal gates to heaven; that is, if we live a good, holy life!

-J.