5th Week of Lent

March 17: Some bystanders heard a voice from heaven and maintained, “An angel has spoken to him.”

My dear brothers and sisters, today, as we gather to reflect on the Word of God, we are invited to delve into the profound mystery of the new covenant that the Lord offers us, a covenant sealed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The readings presented to us on this Fifth Sunday of Lent reveal to us the depth of God’s love for humanity and the transformative power of obedience, suffering, and sacrifice.                                

In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, we hear the promise of a new covenant, unlike the old covenant made with the Israelites when they were led out of Egypt. This new covenant is not one merely written on tablets of stone but is inscribed upon the very hearts of God’s people. God promises to dwell within us, guiding us with His law, forgiving our sins, and establishing an intimate relationship with us. This covenant speaks of restoration, reconciliation, and a deep communion between God and His people.                                                                           

As we reflect on the words of Jeremiah, we are reminded of the profound truth that God’s desire is not simply to impose laws upon us but to transform us from within, to shape our hearts according to His will. This transformation is made possible through the obedience and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, as we hear in the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.                                                                                        

In the days of His earthly life, Jesus offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the Father. He experienced the depths of human suffering and learned obedience through His own trials. Yet, in His obedience unto death, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who believe in Him. Through His suffering and death on the cross, Jesus opened the way for us to be reconciled with God and to experience the fullness of life.                                                                     

The Gospel passage from John further illuminates the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice and the call to discipleship. When some Greeks come seeking Jesus, He speaks of the hour of His glorification, which is to come through His imminent death and resurrection. Jesus uses the imagery of a grain of wheat, illustrating that only through dying to oneself can one bear much fruit. He challenges us to embrace the paradox of losing our lives in order to find true life in Him. Whoever serves Him must follow Him, even to the point of self-sacrifice.      

Jesus’ own prayer in the face of His impending death reveals His complete surrender to the Father’s will. He does not ask to be spared from His hour of suffering but instead prays for the Father’s glory to be revealed through His sacrifice. In this moment, Jesus models for us the perfect obedience and trust in God’s plan, even in the midst of anguish and uncertainty.                                                                                               

My brothers and sisters, as we journey through this season of Lent, let us reflect on the profound implications of the new covenant established through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us allow God to inscribe His law upon our hearts, transforming us from within and guiding us in our journey of faith. May we embrace the call to discipleship, following Jesus with wholehearted devotion, even if it means embracing the cross. And may we, like Jesus, surrender ourselves completely to the Father’s will, trusting in His promise of eternal life and glory.                                                                                                           

As we prepare to enter into Holy Week, let us enter into these sacred mysteries with hearts open to receive God’s grace and mercy. Let us walk with Jesus on the road to Calvary, knowing that it is through His sacrifice that we are redeemed. And let us rejoice in the hope of the resurrection, which brings new life and the fulfillment of God’s promises.                                                                                                                

May the grace of God, the love of Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever.

4th Sunday of Lent

March 10: The light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light

Dear brothers and sisters, as we gather on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, the Scriptures invite us to reflect on the profound themes of God’s mercy, grace, and the transformative power of His light in our lives. The readings today offer a narrative that echoes the persistent love of God despite human waywardness and the opportunity for redemption through faith in Christ.                                                         

The first reading from the Second Book of Chronicles reveals a painful episode in the history of God’s people. The princes, priests, and the entire community of Judah turned away from the Lord, adding infidelity upon infidelity. They not only abandoned God’s commandments but also defiled the sacred temple in Jerusalem. In response to their rebellion, the Lord, out of compassion, sent messengers early and often to guide them back to the path of righteousness. However, the people mocked, despised, and scoffed at these messengers, kindling the Lord’s anger to the point where there was no remedy.                                                                  

The consequences were severe – the destruction of the temple, the burning of the house of God, and the exile of the people to Babylon. Yet, even in the midst of their disobedience, God’s mercy endured. The prophetic words of Jeremiah were fulfilled, and in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia, God inspired him to proclaim the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. This demonstrates the enduring mercy of God, who, even in the face of our waywardness, seeks our redemption and restoration.                                                      

In the second reading from the Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul extols the richness of God’s mercy. We are reminded that it is by God’s grace, not by our works, that we have been saved. Paul underscores that salvation is a gift, freely given out of God’s great love for us. We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works, and this call to live virtuously is a response to the grace we have received.

The Gospel according to John continues this theme, drawing a parallel between the lifting up of the serpent in the desert and the upcoming crucifixion of the Son of Man. Jesus emphasizes that just as Moses lifted up the serpent for the healing of the Israelites, so too will the Son of Man be lifted up for the salvation of the world. This lifting up is not for condemnation but for eternal life for all who believe.                                                                                               

The Gospel passage encapsulates the essence of God’s love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” This act of divine love transcends our understanding. God sent His Son not to condemn but to save the world through Him. The choice lies with us – to believe and embrace the light or to remain in darkness due to our wicked deeds.                                                                             

The outcome is clear – those who believe in the Son of God are not condemned. However, those who reject the light, preferring darkness, are already condemned because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. The light has come into the world, and it reveals the truth of our actions. Those who live in the truth willingly come to the light, exposing their deeds as done in God. As we journey through this Lenten season, let us reflect on the mercy and grace God has lavished upon us. Let us recognize the moments when we, like the people of Judah, have turned away from God’s ways. Yet, in our shortcomings, let us be reassured by the unwavering love of our Heavenly Father, who sent His Son to be lifted up for our salvation. May we choose to live in the light, embracing the truth, and allowing our deeds to be seen as done in God.                                                                                                           

May the grace of God transform our lives, and His light guide us on the path to eternal life.