March 21st
This is the last Sunday before Holy Week, the week of Jesus processing into Jerusalem riding a donkey, of the Last Supper, the Washing of feet, the institution of the Eucharist, the Betrayal by Judas, the Agony in the Garden, Jesus’ arrest, his abandonment by his disciples, his condemnation by the High Priesta, his flogging by the Roman soldiers, his sentencing to crudifiction by Pilate, his way of the Cross, crucifixión, last words and death, his burial and the watch kept by Magdalen and, the crowning of all this intense suffering by his resurrection.
This is what the 5th Sunday of Lent prepares us for, opens our hearts to enter into.
In the first Reading, from Jeremiah 31, the Lord tells us, ´´I shall plant my law within them, writing it on their hearts.´´ What is his law ¿ ´You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength and your neighbour as yourself.¨ Who is my neighbour ¿ Anyone in need – in my community, my área, my country, but even in my WORLD , our common home, and above all those most abandoned . And that includes all God’s beloved creatures that are dying because of human greed.
Psalm 51 proclaims, ´¨I am a sinner… give me back the joy of your salvation.¨ We are awakened to the truth that we are not innocent, we are COMPLICIT in the evil systems and structures that have brought about such suffering and misery to our world and we beg for transformation, for salvation.
The Second Reading, from Hebrews 5, tells us that ¨¨He learned obedience by his sufferings and became the source of salvation to all.¨¨ We must walk the path the Lord shows us and learn obedience by the suffering we must endure, because it is the only way to save our beautiful Earth.
The Gospel, John 12, tells us, ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains but a single grain, but if it dies it yields much fruit.’ We ask the Lord to give us the grace we need tos ay ‘yes’ to this dying every day to our own strong liking for power,. success, popularity, consolation, in order to know His will.
Margie Conroy
Dear Margie, Thanks for your Reflection, very good and down to earth to my soul. Yes, dying makes me feel it but not easy like Jesus Christ we rise Rise again. We’ve Just burries a great woman , Lucy’s sister,who witnessed Dying to self in her life by doing good to others. I am learning a lot.
May the grace of God remain with you and all.
Blessings of love,
Roserscj