History Repeats

Today’s Gospel Text: Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him; 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all; 50 you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish." 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called E'phraim; and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?" John 11:45-56

Reflection: “History repeats itself,” and the few who know and understand this concept also have understood that those who do not learn from it are doomed to repeat it.

We do not know the actual veracity of the claim laid by this statement, but what is visibly seen is the repetition or recurrence of certain patterns in history in different milieu and culture. Those living in the situation tend to be blind to the eventuality, even if they may have the knowledge of a historical background.

Biblical history has been no different and there is a lot that we can learn from the recurrences of Biblical events, because it prophetically brings out a fact of this repetitive nature of human history from a divine point of view.

One such fact that Biblical history brings about is that nations are lead to their eventual destruction as the human pride, sin and hedonistic tendencies grows and its laws no longer supports life in all its dimensions.

In other words, to turn away from the righteousness and laws of God will bring the nations down to its knees.  They may perhaps hold together on the basis of human pride which strengthens the resolve but ultimately working in mortals, and is destructive before its fall.

One such fact brought out in the gospel which spurred this reflection are the fears expressed by the leaders of the Jewish community; the Chief Priests, Pharisees and the council: 

"What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.  If we let him go on thus, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation."  (vs. 47-48)

In our time we have precisely a repetition of history, when fears of the same kind are expressed by the leaders of Christian community when mention is made of the need to proclaim the gospel of Christ.

Hence we could have Christian leaders who will speak one kind of language at the synods and discussions and another language in their own backyard and thus betray their service as servants of the gospel.

Prayer:  Lord, have mercy on the people who have never been given the opportunity to hear the message of your Son on account of the fears of the leaders who put up obstacles to its spread. 

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