Gospel Reading:  John 11:45-56

45 Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus had done put their trust in Him. 46 Some of them went to the proud religious law-keepers and told them what Jesus had done. 47 The religious leaders of the Jews and the proud religious law-keepers gathered a court together. They said, "What will we do? This Man is doing many powerful works. 48 If we let Him keep doing these things, all men will put their trust in Him. The Romans will come and take away the house of God and our nation." 49 Caiaphas was the head religious leader that year. He said to them, "You know nothing about this. 50 Do you not see it is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed?"

 51 Caiaphas did not think of these words himself. He spoke what God had said would happen. He was telling before it happened that Jesus must die for the nation. 52 He must die not only for the nation, but also to bring together into one group the children of God who were living in many places.

 53 From that day on they talked together about how they might kill Jesus. 54 For this reason Jesus did not walk out in the open among the Jews. He went to a town called Ephraim. It was near a desert. He stayed there with His followers.

55 The special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt was soon. Many people from around the country came up to Jerusalem to go through the religious washing before the special supper. 56 They looked for Jesus. They stood together in the house of God and asked each other, "What do you think? Will He come to the special supper?"

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 37:21-28

26 I will make a peace agreement with them, one that lasts forever. I will bring good to them and make them many in number. And I will set My holy place among them forever. 27 I will live with them, and will be their God, and they will be My people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the Lord Who makes Israel holy, when My holy place is among them forever."

Meditation: Augustine wrote: "The passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the hope of glory and a lesson in patience. ..He loved us so much that, sinless himself, he suffered for us sinners the punishment we deserved for our sins. How then can he fail to give us the reward we deserve for our righteousness, for he is the source of righteousness? How can he, whose promises are true, fail to reward the saints when he bore the punishment of sinners, though without sin himself? Brethren, let us then fearlessly acknowledge, and even openly proclaim, that Christ was crucified for us; let us confess it, not in fear but in joy, not in shame but in glory." The way to glory and victory for us is through the cross of Jesus Christ. Are you ready to take up your cross and follow Christ in his way of victory?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, may we your disciples be ever ready to lay down our lives in conformity to your will, to willingly suffer and die for you, that we may also share in your victory and glory."

Psalm 22:1, 6-10

1 My God, my God, why have You left me alone? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words I cry inside myself?

6 But I am a worm and not a man. I am put to shame by men, and am hated by the people.
 7 All who see me make fun of me. They open their mouths and shake their heads, and say,
 8 "He trusts in the Lord. Let the Lord help him. Let the Lord take him out of trouble, because he is happy in Him."

 9 But You brought me out when I was born. You made me trust when I drank my mother's milk.
 10 I was in Your care from birth. Since my mother gave birth to me, You have been my God.