5th Sunday of Lent Mar. 25, 2012 (Jn 12:20-33)
Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."
Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
"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. Father, glorify your name."
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."
The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.
Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
"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. Father, glorify your name."
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."
The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.
In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks of the suffering and death that He was about to face. He explained the idea behind these things to come; He explained how a death can actually be life-giving. In this Gospel passage, we are reminded of the richness and depth of the Paschal Mystery which we will celebrate come Holy Week.
Jesus' suffering was redemptive. And Jesus makes it clear that our sacrifice and suffering can bear much fruit and be life-giving too. When we do good for others, we share our life with them. Even if we do not die to save other people, reaching out to them and trying to help them out makes us true disciples of Jesus who lived and died for others. Like the Greeks in today's Gospel, we also wish to see Jesus. But seeing and experiencing Christ will never be complete unless we become true Christians who are willing to follow Jesus.
The hour of Jesus' glory is the hour of His being lifted up on the cross. That is the moment of His triumph over sin and death. That hour is the hour of His total obedience to the Father. We too are called to that obedience. Our whole lives must be a witness to the glory of the Father.
As we are about to experience the celebration of Jesus' Paschal Mystery, may we learn to appreciate and meditate on the meaning of suffering and self-denial. Further, may we be true disciples of Jesus by faithfully following His example of sacrifice and obedience.
Jesus' suffering was redemptive. And Jesus makes it clear that our sacrifice and suffering can bear much fruit and be life-giving too. When we do good for others, we share our life with them. Even if we do not die to save other people, reaching out to them and trying to help them out makes us true disciples of Jesus who lived and died for others. Like the Greeks in today's Gospel, we also wish to see Jesus. But seeing and experiencing Christ will never be complete unless we become true Christians who are willing to follow Jesus.
The hour of Jesus' glory is the hour of His being lifted up on the cross. That is the moment of His triumph over sin and death. That hour is the hour of His total obedience to the Father. We too are called to that obedience. Our whole lives must be a witness to the glory of the Father.
As we are about to experience the celebration of Jesus' Paschal Mystery, may we learn to appreciate and meditate on the meaning of suffering and self-denial. Further, may we be true disciples of Jesus by faithfully following His example of sacrifice and obedience.
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