Fifth Sunday of Lent
-
March 18, 2021March 21, 2021
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Jer 31:31-34
Heb 5:7-9
Jn 12:20-33
GROW: Recent news warned of a shortage of seeds this spring, as home gardeners carry on a hobby borne of the coronavirus pandemic. Even those of us not exactly known for our green thumbs jumped in, seeing home gardens as a way not only to stock our pantries, but to sow hope during a time of isolation and, for too many, mourning. In today’s readings, we are reminded of an even larger hope – one that transcends optimism and feeling, and is centered in the theological virtue of Hope. God holds us close even on the most challenging of days. We see this in Jeremiah’s prophecy of a new covenant, where all shall know God and our sins will be washed away. And today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus, like the grain of wheat, dies so that we may have new life. As we plant our seeds this spring, we will undoubtedly remember the people and things we have lost. Yet, as shoots break through with the warmth of spring, we can be reminded of Jesus, the source of all hope, and his promise that “I will draw everyone to myself.”
GO: As we approach Holy Week, the Gospel prepares us by reminding us that Jesus, like a grain of wheat, must die so that we may have new life: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” I don’t think that John is telling us to wallow in sadness or live joyless lives. Instead, perhaps he is encouraging us to “lose” those things that are not life-giving and instead focus on what draws us closer to Jesus – such as prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Perhaps as we continue our Lenten journey, we can identify the obstacles that get between us and Jesus, or that divide our families and communities. By letting those go, we free ourselves to be more like Christ, and to share the Good News of God’s great love for us with others.
ACTION: Buy a packet of seeds (if you can find one). Plant seeds in memory of loved ones who may have died this past year, or in remembrance of any type of loss you or your loved ones may have suffered. Offer prayers of thanksgiving for Jesus, the source of our hope.
