Fr Paul reads from John’s Gospel (11: 45-56), the Jews have come to visit Mary and has seen what Jesus did, they believed in Him.

This Gospel happens after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Fr Paul says, and from this we see that giving the gift of life to Lazarus it brings death to Jesus. The crowds going to see Lazarus and what Jesus has done cause the high priests to hold this meeting. The heart of the meeting is the Caiaphas unconscious prophecy, that one man has to die. It has the sound of Jesus Himself, ‘Son of man came not be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many’.

At the end of today’s Gospel, we hear a question, will He come to the festival or not?

This then sets the scene for our Palm Sunday celebrations and Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and so begins our Holy Week celebrations.