When Ezekiel wrote the passage in today’s first reading, the Jewish people were caught up in the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem had been destroyed, the Temple reduced to ruins, the house of David had come to an end. Earlier in his Book, Ezekiel had put the blame for this tragedy on the people for paying no attention to their obligations under the covenant. Instead they had worshipped the idols and refused to live in justice and charity. It is at this point in Israel’s history when Ezekiel writes today’s section, which some call “The Book of Consolation” — God will heap gifts on the people: unity, cleansing from idolatry and sin, a prosperous land, a restored Davidic dynasty, Temple and priesthood.
In the Gospel, John still sees the hand of God in the intrigue and evil plot ting of Pharisees and priests as they move toward the fulfillment of God’s own desires. John understands the high priest’s condemnation of Jesus as a prophecy that the One condemned would indeed gather all of God’s dispersed children into one. The whole world would come to believe in him.
Rev. Paul J. Schmidt concludes his commentary on these two readings: “We cannot take the sorrow and pain out of Holy Week. But, as tragic and sobering as the events of Christ’s passion and death were, we do not observe Holy Week as a tragedy. From death comes life; from sorrow joy. These events are the celebration of our own baptismal initiation into Christ’s dying and rising.”
