Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the 5th week of Lent, March 27, 2021

Reading is delivered by Yohanes Catur and meditation delivered by Gracia Merisa (from Saint Peter's School in Jakarta, Indonesia). Ezekiel  37: 21-28; Rs psalm Jeremiah 31: 10.11-12ab.13; John 11: 45-56. AGREEMENT Our meditation today has the theme: Agreement. There was a university student who shared about the importance of an agreement in his life experience. When he graduated from high school, he decided to enter university by choosing a major that suited his abilities and preferences. That was against his parents who had already planned for him a major of study that was different from his choice. They had to discuss many times until finally they came to an agreement that was accepted together in the family. That agreement was that the parents allowed him to follow his choice, with one condition that the he must comply with. The condition really demanded him not to fail in his major and he must finished study on time. If he failed and wanted to change  to another major, or delayed and extended more years in study, his parents would not beresponsible to support him. They agreed to that condition and the son took it seriously until he was able to finish study on time. An agreement is born from the different sides or parties who come together to collaborate and work together. The function of agreement is to preserve such cooperation and togetherness. From the view of our faith, the difference between the authority of God and the power of the Evil is very real and sharp. We know well that the Lord and Satan cannot work together. It is impossible to find an agreement between these two. But if they can make just a single point of agreement, it is because of the Lord Jesus Christ and His mission. An agreement between God's will and Satan's will was finally designed through the intention, plan and act of the scribes, the Pharisees and the high priests. They were all greats opponents of Jesus Christ. God Himself already authorized through the testimony of the Scriptures, that Jesus Christ would die for gathering and uniting the scattered children so dear to the almighty God. The same view also came from the high priest Caiaphas who prophesied that Jesus of Nazareth would die to gather and unite the scattered children of Israel. This agreement had to happen, so that Judas Iscariot, after being possessed by the Satan, was able to carry out his duties. An agreement must be made so that we can celebrate the Lord's events from the garden of Gethsemane to Golgotha ​​until the moment of the Lord's burial. The will of the Father in heaven must be realized, but to carry out that will, there is an opportunity for evil, violence, and sin to take their roles. This of course applies also to us, therefore Jesus has established a covenant, that all difficulties and persecutions will come upon each of his followers. When we carry out His will and mission, temptations, difficulties, suffering, persecutions will go along with us. God sees, permits and approves it to happen. An agreement indeed has been made for us. Let's pray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord, may we continue to follow our model Jesus Christ when we face all the sufferings in life. Glory to the Father and to the Son... In the name of the Father and of the Son ...