Until now, many of our lenten gospels were from St. Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount  – Jesus’ teaching on prayer and mercy and forgiveness– and also some important readings from Luke’s Gospel, like the parable of the Prodigal Son and the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. They originate in Galilee where Jesus taught and worked wonders, but finally was not well received. 

Our gospel readings for this week and the remaining days of lent are from St. John’s gospel and bring us to Jerusalem where Jesus celebrated various Jewish feasts.  During the feasts  he worked wonders, gave sight to a man born blind, raised Lazarus from the dead and taught in the temple  

 All the while, opposition in the Holy City mounted until he was arrested, judged guilty, crucified and died;  then he rose from the dead.

 John’s gospel sees  Jerusalem as the place where Jesus manifests himself. Because he worked wonders in Jerusalem he’s welcomed into Galilee. “When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.” (John 4:45) Jesus speaks and works wonders on the Jewish feasts.

More than other gospel writers, John describes a glorious Christ accomplishing his mission to bring life to the world, even as the world opposes him and clings to darkness.  Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, suffers and dies and rises again. God’s mercy, made flesh in Jesus Christ, is revealed in Jerusalem, on a Passover feast. 

What does he accomplish by the mystery of his death and resurrection? The Prophet Isaiah announces it in our first reading on Monday:

Thus says the LORD:

Lo, I am about to create new heavens

and a new earth;

The things of the past shall not be remembered

or come to mind.

Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness

in what I create;

For I create Jerusalem to be a joy

and its people to be a delight… ( Isaiah 65:17)