Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord tells of a kingdom that has been divided, destroyed, and exiled by sin. The Lord will form it into a new united and cleansed kingdom that finally knows peace. At the end of the Gospel for today, those who were preparing for Passover asked if Jesus would not come for the feast. Yet, we know that Jesus comes precisely to fulfill the mysteries of that feast, precisely to fulfill that prophecy over the kingdom. Christ comes to suffer and enter into His glory.
As we stand on the edge of Holy Week, let us ask the Lord once more to cleanse our hearts, to give them a share of His unity and peace, so that we too may know as Jesus knows the tremendous grace He has given in laying down His life for the kingdom into which He chooses to form those whom He calls ‘friends’.