Walking with Jesus: Fifth Sunday of Lent B

For Sunday, March 17, 2024

Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:7-9, John 12:20-33

What is the meaning of my life? Why was I born? Why did God create me? Do I have a purpose in life? Or is my life — and everyone’s lives — haphazard, without purpose or meaning? Does what happens to me happen just by chance? Has it ever occurred to me that my life seems to be marked by a plan … has a meaning … makes a difference? I’ve had that feeling. I’ve touched another person and brought meaning … a reason why that person is alive and makes a difference! Many have shared the same experience with me. When I’ve reflected and experienced this, I've realized that I’m an important part of creation that brought about a very meaningful message to this person: that they are important — I am important — all are important — and we are discovering the meaning of why we were created: to be God … to be love … to bring fulfillment to one another.  

The first reading is taken from that part of Jeremiah which is sometimes called the Book Of Hope. It shows an exiled people whose homeland has been destroyed.  Everything that was meaningful has been ripped from their lives. They are tempted by despair. God says NO! God imprints the Divine Law on their hearts: They are important; no matter where they are or what they are doing, God is with them. Jeremiah reiterates an overall theme of the Old Testament: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” [Jeremiah 31:34]

In the Gospel we witness an exciting, historic event in Jesus’ ministry: God opens His Kingdom to the Gentiles, to non-Jews. More than the Jews will be saved. Jesus preaches God’s plan that salvation is offered to all. The Gentile disciples come to Philip and ask: “Sir [Philip], we would like to see Jesus.” [John 12:20] Haven’t these very words been a part of our longing? We want to know this God who created us, who touched us with love. In the midst of all our daily living, coupled with suffering and confusion, we want to see Him — and not just because He is the greatest wisdom figure the world has known. We want to see Him because we have heard He is a holy man, a prophet. We have heard so much about how He came to save us, to show us that our destiny is with Him in heaven. We want to see Him because we hope He will heal us, touch us, help us.

Then it seems Jesus goes off on a tangent, talking about something unrelated: “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat.” [John 20:24] What is this riddle all about? He adds, “And when I am lifted up from the earth … I will draw everyone to myself.” [John 20:32] I want to see Jesus — I must see Him on the cross. I must know Him in His passion, death and resurrection. If I want to love Jesus, I must imitate Him in His sacrifice: I must be willing to die with Him. No longer is the goal of life to be happy, for my family to be safe and cared for, or for me to have all the treasures and beauties of life rolled up and given to me. We miss Jesus because our worldly desires, and sins even, have blinded us. Our attention is totally upon ourselves. When we keep to ourselves we have lost sight of Him. He is my way to the Father ... to Heaven … to the meaning of a life that is worth living: the life of loving, caring, forgiving, and leading others to love.

A horrible death approaches Jesus. He’s troubled. He knows what will happen. He has told the disciples of His impending death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. They do not want to believe it. They think: I don’t want anything to happen to the most important prophet, this messiah. I have so much more to learn, to love, to desire. Life is God’s gift. Jesus isn’t saying we should reject that gift; rather, He’s telling us what that gift is and how God shows us what kind of life to choose. It comes to us from God through the Spirit that sees beyond itself to the future, where everyone is drawn via Christ’s life and love to our everlasting home in heaven that has been planned forever — for you, for me, for all. Do I want it? Do I believe it? It does involve a choice: choosing my way or God’s way. My way never leaves me fulfilled. The way of love as Jesus showed us, repeatedly, is the way of heaven: the way of love and with Love Itself ... with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So I reflect on:

• When Jesus says He’ll draw everyone to Himself, He’s speaking about aligning my own life with His. What does aligning my life with Jesus mean to me? How does this draw my life closer to His?
• In looking at Lent, I look at the times I have been dying to self in little ways and in significant ways. In a sense the “old order” has passed away a little … or a lot. My old dependencies with their limitations and frustrations have been removed, toppled, replaced — to a degree — with LOVE. How can I keep it that way?

Sacred Space 2024 states:

“Jesus drew St. Patrick to Himself and sent him on mission to Ireland. It meant returning to a place where he had been enslaved and had suffered. Help us to recognize where we are enslaved now so that we might be free to announce the good news as Patrick did.

“The surprising ways of God bore fruit through the labors of St. Patrick, who came to a pagan nation. There is need of a renewed vision to declare that mission in a changed country. May we value the gifts of the past and be strengthened by them in facing the future.”