Friends, in today’s Gospel, the chief priests and Pharisees unite in a plot to kill Jesus because he raised Lazarus from the dead.

The Crucifixion of Jesus is a classic instance of Catholic philosopher René Girard’s scapegoating theory. He held that a society, large or small, that finds itself in conflict comes together through a common act of blaming an individual or group purportedly responsible for the conflict.

It is utterly consistent with the Girardian theory that Caiaphas, the leading religious figure of the time, said to his colleagues, “It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.”

In any other religious context, this sort of rationalization would be validated. But in the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, this stunning truth is revealed: God is not on the side of the scapegoaters, but rather on the side of the scapegoated victim.

The true God does not sanction a community created through violence; rather, he sanctions what Jesus called the kingdom of God, a society grounded in forgiveness, love, and identification with the victim.

Gospel Reflections

Daily Gospel Reflections from Bishop Barron

5th week of Lent

Saturday

April 1

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Friday

March 31

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Thursday

March 30

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Wednesday

March 29

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Tuesday

March 28

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Monday

March 27

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Sunday

March 26

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4th week of Lent

Saturday

March 25

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Annunciation

Friday

March 24

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Thursday

March 23

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Wednesday

March 22

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Tuesday

March 21

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Monday

March 20

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St. Joseph

Sunday

March 19

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3rd week of Lent

Saturday

March 18

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Friday

March 17

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Thursday

March 16

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Wednesday

March 15

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Tuesday

March 14

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Monday

March 13

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Sunday

March 12

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2nd week of Lent

Saturday

March 11

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Friday

March 10

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Thursday

March 9

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Wednesday

March 8

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Tuesday

March 7

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Monday

March 6

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Sunday

March 5

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1st week of Lent

Saturday

March 4

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Friday

March 3

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Thursday

March 2

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Wednesday

March 1

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Tuesday

February 28

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Monday

February 27

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Sunday

February 26

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Week of Ash Wednesday

Saturday

February 25

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Friday

February 24

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Thursday

February 23

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Wednesday

February 22

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Ash Wednesday

Tuesday

February 21

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Monday

February 20

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Sunday

February 19

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6th week of Ordinary Time

Saturday

February 18

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Friday

February 17

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Thursday

February 16

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Wednesday

February 15

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Tuesday

February 14

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Monday

February 13

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