Lenten Reflection: Fifth Sunday of Lent

LENTEN REFLECTION:
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

While we have been preparing for the Triduum throughout the whole of Lent, the readings for this Sunday are clearly directed at the upcoming Good Friday, ​not just the spirit of Lent. Take a closer look at how they point us to Christ's sacrifice for mankind.

Meditation:
In our Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Jesus speaks about "the kind of death he would die (Jn. 12:33)." In less than two weeks we will celebrate Good Friday, the day of the Lord's Passion. We have been preparing for the Triduum throughout the whole of Lent, but the readings for this Sunday are clearly directed at the upcoming Good Friday, not just the spirit of Lent.

Our first reading comes from Jeremiah, where God speaks about the new covenant that He will make, a covenant in which all will know God's law and their sins will be forgiven. Our second reading from Hebrews speaks about Jesus showing obedience by submitting to His Passion, as well as becoming "the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Heb. 5:9)." Our Gospel reading from John sums these up when Jesus obediently submits Himself to the Father's will and when He says, "And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."

​Jesus's death on the Cross is the New Covenant God made with the whole world and everyone in it. Reflect on God's goodness in making Himself obedient, even to death on a Cross (Phil. 2:8), and His great love for you. How will you return His love? 

Prayer:
Amen, Amen I say to you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single grain. But if it dies, it bears much fruit (Jn. 12:24)." - Communion Antiphon Fifth Sunday of Lent