Fifth Sunday of Lent

One is the return to the “covenant” - whether the Mosaic covenant for Israel or “Judeo-Christian values” or “Christian values” (traditionally Protestant values) for the USA

The other is waiting for a Messiah of some type - whether a Davidic king in Israel or a Messianic politician in the USA (in whatever realm - Supreme Court, President, or whatever - the person who will impose “traditional values” by law)

2 Jeremiah tells us that this is not what is needed

The old style covenant was broken repeatedly

What is needed is a covenant written on the heart: “I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

3 But a covenant is created through sacrifice

Hebrews tells us that the Messiah, the Son, was “made perfect” through suffering - through sacrifice - and therefore “he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”

Jesus tells us in response to the gathering of the nations (one of the four tasks of the Messiah): “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” He, of course, is the grain of wheat that dies.

Yet sacrifice also becomes the way of his followers as they enter into his sacrifice: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

And when Jesus speaks, “when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” That is, the glorification of Jesus will be through sacrifice and then exaltation.

This will destroy the power of the devil: “Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.” And, of course, it will write the new covenant on the heart, making it internal rather than external.

4 Sisters, there are a lot of “solutions” out there in the world, but they are of limited value because they are external,

just as every “war to end all war” may give a temporary peace, but at the same time spawns another war with more terrifying weapons

Jesus has become the sacrifice establishing the new covenant in his blood and we enter into that sacrifice by being willing to give up our lives; that, on top of our prayer-empowered proclaiming of Jesus is what makes us part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Easily said, but not easily done - sacrifice is never easy for the victim

And then our heavenly Father and his Son will indeed be glorified in the Spirit - and then we get to participate in that glory

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 3-21-2021: Fifth Sunday of Lent

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 31:31–34

31 See, days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke my covenant, though I was their master—oracle of the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days—oracle of the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 They will no longer teach their friends and relatives, “Know the LORD!” Everyone, from least to greatest, shall know me—oracle of the LORD—for I will forgive their iniquity and no longer remember their sin.

RESPONSE

Psalm 51:12a

12 A clean heart create for me, God;

renew within me a steadfast spirit.

PSALM

Psalm 51:3–4, 12–15

3 Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;

in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.

4 Thoroughly wash away my guilt;

and from my sin cleanse me.

12 A clean heart create for me, God;

renew within me a steadfast spirit.

13 Do not drive me from before your face,

nor take from me your holy spirit.

14 Restore to me the gladness of your salvation;

uphold me with a willing spirit.

15 I will teach the wicked your ways,

that sinners may return to you.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 5:7–9

7 In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 9 and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 12:26

26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

GOSPEL

John 12:20–33

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

27 “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. 31 Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 3-21-2021: Fifth Sunday of Lent

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 | LENT

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Jeremiah 31:31–34

Response Psalm 51:12a

Psalm Psalm 51:3–4, 12–15

Second Reading Hebrews 5:7–9

Gospel Acclamation John 12:26

Gospel John 12:20–33

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