Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Fifth Sunday of Lent March 17, 2024

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

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Today in the gospel we have a reference to the Greeks. All of us are aware of the Greek philosopher Socrates. He is regarded as one of the wisest men of all time. This man who lived between 470 and 399 BC devoted his life to exposing ignorance, hypocrisy and conceit among his fellow Athenians and calling them to a radical re-examination of life. “The unexamined life,” he said, “is not worth living.” He challenged popular opinions regarding religion and politics as he sought to bring people to a better understanding of virtue, justice, piety and right conduct. He attracted many followers, especially among the youth. But those in power arrested him, tried him and sentenced him to death. He was charged with false teaching regarding the gods of the state, propagating revolutionary ideas and corrupting the youth of Athens. His family and friends wanted to intervene to overturn the sentence but he would not let them. He had the option to go into exile from Athens but he would not take it. Instead, he accepted to drink the poison hemlock and die. Subsequent generations of Greeks came to regard Socrates as a martyr for truth. They resolved never again to persecute anyone on account of their beliefs.

It was not so during the time of Jesus. By the time of Jesus the Greeks had become among the most broad-minded people in the world. Various religious and philosophical traditions flourished among them and vied for popularity. We see in today’s gospel that among the huge crowds that had come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast were some Greeks.

In the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, we hear the promise of a new covenant, one not etched on stone tablets but written upon the hearts of God's people. This covenant speaks of a profound intimacy between humanity and the divine, a relationship rooted in love and faithfulness. It is a covenant that heralds a new beginning, a fresh start for those who turn their hearts back to God.

The Greek world demands an intellectual discussion. Today’s gospel too has a similar tone. However, the theme could be taken as ‘Jesus and his impending death and resurrection’. He uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying in order to bear much fruit. In these words, Jesus invites us to contemplate the mystery of transformation through sacrifice. Just as the seed must undergo a process of dying to itself in order to bring forth new life, so too must we be willing to let go of our old selves in order to be reborn in Christ.

This Lenten call of transformation is echoed in the words of St. Paul in the second reading, where he speaks of Christ's obedience and the salvation that he offers to all who heed his call. Through his suffering and death, Christ has become the source of eternal salvation for all who believe in him. In embracing the cross, Jesus shows us the path to redemption and invites us to share in his victory over sin and death.

As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to consider our own journey of transformation. Lent is a time for us to examine our lives honestly, to acknowledge those areas where we have fallen short, and to open ourselves to the grace of God's healing love. It is a time to let go of our attachments to sin and selfishness and to allow God to work within us, shaping us into the people he created us to be.

But transformation is not always easy. Like the grain of wheat, we may find ourselves resisting the process of dying to self, clinging to the familiar comforts of our old lives. Yet, if we are willing to surrender ourselves to God's will, we will discover that true freedom and fulfillment lie in embracing the new life that he offers us.

Jesus explains to us this law of Lent which is the law of life, through the metaphor of the grain of wheat or any seed.  When preserved safely it produces no fruit and remains unproductive. Only when it is buried in the ground does it bear fruit and that in far greater abundance than itself. Our entire lives are similarly a cycle of dying and rising. It is when we are prepared to die that our lives gain life – a newness of life in Christ. When we die to our own ego and selfishness, we can find the joy of being Christians.  

This must have been a powerful story of encouragement in the faith for the persecuted early Christians to whom John wrote. It shows that it is only through Jesus’ submission to an undeserved death that they now have the benefit of faith and salvation. But then it goes on to remind them of the words of Jesus that his followers must follow in his steps even unto death. “Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.” (John 12:25-26). Where is Jesus? Jesus is in glory. But to get there he had to pass through the gates of death in faithfulness to God’s will. That is his story. That also should be our story.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us open our hearts to the transformative power of God's love. Let us allow ourselves to be pruned and purified so that we may bear fruit in abundance. And let us look forward with hope and anticipation to the joy of Easter, when we will celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death.

May God bless us abundantly during this holy season, and may His grace sustain us on our journey of transformation.

Happy Sunday