Cycle B - Year II:

18 March 2018: Fifth Sunday of Lent

(Liturgical Color: Violet)

Readings:

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9

Gospel:Please Read John 12:20-33

To die... in order to live!

We are now nearing the end of our Lenten pilgrimage. The readings for this Sunday's liturgy prepare us for the mystery of our Lord's passion and glorification.

In the Gospel narratives, Jesus took the opportunity to bring His disciples to a new and deeper understanding of their faith. He wanted to teach them who He really is and what His mission is about.

Thus, Jesus speaks to them about His "hour of glory", referring to His death and resurrection. "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." (Jn 12:23)

But before we go further in our reflection, let us first understand the style of writing by the evangelist John. Bible scholars say that, unlike the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel written by John does not carry parables. However, he uses similitudes, which function like parables.

Our Lord Jesus uses similitude-parable of the grain of wheat to reveal the mystery of His passion and glorification. He told His disciples: "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." (Jn 12:24)

So what do we understand by this teaching?

Well, the grain of wheat is Jesus. We can say that in His earthly life, He is naturally constrained by physical limitations. But in His death and resurrection, Jesus came to redeem the world from sin restore human beings to a proper relationship with their heavenly Father and open up the gates of heaven to all who come to know and love Him. Thus, Jesus' glory is revealed, not only in His resurrection but also in the very act of dying.

For Christians in our generation, Jesus tells us to follow in His path of suffering and resurrection. We must become the seed of grain that dies, the life that loses itself, and the servant who follows. Because our Lord Jesus Christ is our very guarantee that other seeds that fall on the ground and die in the name of love, our love for our Lord Jesus Christ, will produce abundant harvest.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!