Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus,  whom he had raised from the dead. The next day the great crowds that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.  So they took branches from the palm tree and went out to meet him.

John’s gospel says that Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus whom he raised from the dead. He was honored at a Sabbath banquet there, John’s gospel for Monday tells us. The next day, our Palm Sunday,  crowds that have come to Jerusalem for Passover will honor him by placing palm branches before him as he goes into city. 

We have a picture day by day as we approach the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

For this week’s homily please watch the video below.

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate
a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.
In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.
One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there
and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him,
“Do you want to be well?”
The sick man answered him,
“Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool
when the water is stirred up;
while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.”
Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Now that day was a sabbath.
So the Jews said to the man who was cured,
“It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” 
He answered them, “The man who made me well told me,
‘Take up your mat and walk.'”
They asked him,
“Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?”
The man who was healed did not know who it was,
for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there.
After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him,
“Look, you are well; do not sin any more,
so that nothing worse may happen to you.”
The man went and told the Jews
that Jesus was the one who had made him well.
Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus
because he did this on a sabbath.

The miracle Jesus worked on the paralyzed man on the Sabbath is behind the dialogue he has with the Jews found in our readings for Wednesday and Thursday of this week. “My father is at work until now, so I am at work.”

Like the man born blind,  the paralyzed man does not approach Jesus. Jesus approaches him. The man never enters the healing waters. God’s Healing Water, God’s Son, heals him.

John’s gospel describes the place where the miracle happened in Jerusalem. It is close by the temple. In our first reading today Ezechiel promises life-giving water will flow from the temple. Jesus, the new Temple, offers life and light to a paralyzed world.

Archeologists have uncovered the place. Here are some pictures:

Reconstruction of Bethesda, located near the temple and the Fortress Antonia, where the paralyzed man was healed; from the Jerusalem model, Jewish Museum

Ruins of the healing pool of Bethesda.

Until the 19th century, there was no clear archaeological evidence for the pool but archeologists have uncovered the ruins of the ancient healing place marked by ancient churches since the 5th century. The beautiful 12th century church of St. Ann stands today next to the ruins. Tradition says the birthplace of Mary, the mother of Jesus, is nearby. The site, near St. Stephen’s gate, is a popular pilgrim destination today.

Artist rendering of the pool. The Fortress Antonia is in the background. Not only the Jews, but also the gentiles were among the ill, the blind, the lame, to be healed in this pool.

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)

Dear Jesus, what is a God moment?
– Is it when we see something beautiful and realize You put it there just for us?
– Is it a sudden feeling of happiness or a strong feeling of empathy?
– Is it a  thank You that comes out of nowhere to You , my God?
– Is it a thought or a vision that we realize comes from you?
– Is it a need to get on that Cross with You and empty ourselves of all that is of this world?
-Is it the realization that we are not of this world, but only visitors?
– Is it a word of love ; a look of understanding; a smile from a stranger; a touch from someone when we need it the most?
– What about when we share  with others Your love, my God? We love together. We are one with each other and with You!
– Is it when I look at my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my friends, my Church, my life, and see that they are all gifts from you?
Thank You my God! We need moments with You now more than ever! Have mercy on us!
Fill us with Your Light,  Your Love! , Your All!!
We Love You! 
Thank You!
Berta Hernández