Sunday, March 22, 2015
5th Sunday of Lent
1st Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
2nd Reading:
Hebrews 5:7-9
Gospel: John 12:20-33
Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
“Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life in this world keep it for everlasting life.
“Whoever wants to serve me, let him follow me and wherever I am, there shall my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
“Now my soul is in distress. Shall I say: ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But, I have come to this hour to face all this. Father, glorify your Name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and I will glorify it again.”
People standing there heard something and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel was speaking to him.” Then Jesus declared, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours; now sentence is being passed on this world; now the ruler of this world is to be cast down. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all to myself.”
DAiGITAL EXPERIENCE
Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience
This Fifth Sunday of Lent is better understood in the light of the Gospel messages of the preceding Sundays. The temptation narrative on the First Sunday of Lent emphasizes the battle cry of Jesus as he begins his public ministry: He said, “The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and believe the Good News.” (Mark 1:12-15).
The Second Sunday’s Transfiguration narrative presents Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah about his impending suffering and death. If the first Sunday announces that ‘the kingdom of God is at hand’, the second Sunday establishes the Passion and Death as the path of development of that kingdom.
This Passion and Death is the focus of the Lenten message on the Third Sunday where the Gospel presents Jesus crying out, “Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up again” (Jn. 2:13-25). He is talking about his body which would die for three days only to resurrect in order to claim victory over death.
The Gospel on the fourth Sunday of Lent further develops the concept of Jesus’ Passion. The “lifting up” refers to Jesus’ crucifixion which substantiates the love of the Father who “so loved the world that he sent his only Son that whoever believes in him may not perish but enjoy everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).
These four readings find full meaning in today’s Gospel episode where Jesus claims the hour of his suffering as the hour of his glorification. —Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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