God loves His people so much that He will gather them all to His bosom. It is His eternal will to do so. This is the Good News that the Prophet Ezekiel gives to the people of Israel, now scattered and in exile, but being tested and purified by the humiliations suffered among a pagan people. The Lord will lead them back to their inheritance, a cleansed and repentant nation, and there in their native land, they will live in harmony and peace with each other. God will live among them and they shall keep the covenant made by their father Abraham.

In the Gospel we see the escalation of a threat to official Judaism and the Jewish nation occasioned by the increasing number of Jews who were coming to believe in Jesus (and in His works). The leaders of the Jews decided to step up their plans for getting rid of Him.

The situation in our world today is similar. Some are for Jesus while others are against Him or just sitting on the fence, unable to make up their minds.

What about us who are disciples of Jesus? Lent is an opportune time for us to renew once again our commitment to Jesus Christ. Let us recall Jesus' great love for us as He dies on the cross for our salvation. In repentance we ask God to forgive us, for the ways we are careless and turn away from Christ.