The Fifth Sunday of Lent

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March 18, 2018

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33

The movement of time is captured in today’s readings as we approach the last days of Lent. Jeremiah writes, “The days are coming...” and John in the Gospel says, “The hour has come…” We know that the time is shifting to one of fulfillment. We are only one week away from Palm Sunday and Holy Week, and we turn our attention to the mission of Jesus coming to a close.

Jeremiah tells us God will give us a new covenant that is easier to follow because this time God’s love will be written on our hearts, so we feel closer. John the Evangelist tells us the time is coming when Jesus completes his mission of gathering up all believers to himself. Watch what happens next? Greeks, who represent all the Gentile nations, come to the festival to see Jesus. Symbolically, the whole world notices this moment of Jesus. They recognize that God is doing something special with Jesus, and they want to be a part of his life.

Jesus, knowing his hour has come, talks about his impending suffering and death. He is preparing his friends for the brutality that will unfold. I really like it when Jesus tells us of his emotions because he shows us his humanity. He says, “I’m troubled now.” In fact, he does not want to die. What man in his right mind wants to suffer and die, but he realizes he has to be faithful to God’s mission for him.

As Jesus is preparing to undergo his suffering, how are carrying the suffering in your life? Are you keeping it to yourself and burying it in your daily activities? That is not what Jesus does. We hear him tell his friends that he is sad and doesn’t want to suffer, but his choice was made when he accepted his mission years ago. He knew this moment would come and throughout his ministry, he told his friends he would be handed over to the religious authorities who would condemn him to death.

I think of how my Lent has gone: 17 children were gunned down at school in Florida, Boston endured three nor’easter blizzards, my mother died, a community member died, and ten relatives of colleagues died, including a 16-year-old boy. I went through a painful debilitating treatment of my skin to ensure I do not get skin cancer. My schedule has been busy with retreats and extra-curricular activities. I have had little time to grieve and to look at my suffering, but the approach of Holy Week begs me to do it now. It is my time to share my pain with Jesus as he goes to his cross.

Jesus is doing his work of gathering up his believers and all their suffering. Why would I resist him and make his work more difficult? Rather, I had to give over to him all my concerns, worries, and grief because it is what he came to collect. I don’t want to make his work any more difficult. I give him my feelings and thoughts, my worries and disappointments, and I give him my dreams and hopes. He wants them from me. Everything belongs on his cross because that is his altar that he offers everything he has to God.

Cooperate with him in this week that precedes his Passion. Give him, as fully as you can, the depths of your soul. Do not resist him and make his work harder. His suffering is enough to bear. Let him gather everything up and complete his mission. If you want to do anything, just be near him and be his friend. That is all he wants because the presence of his friends makes his burden lighter.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading:

Monday: (Daniel 13) Daniel’s sharp advocacy skills spare the life of Susannah who has been unjustly accused of immoral sexual relationships.

Tuesday: (Numbers 21) As the wandering Israelites passed through the desert near the Red Sea, many are bitten by seraph serpents, but Moses erected a bronze serpent that he lifted up for those bitten to gaze upon the image and be cured.

Wednesday: (Isaiah 7) Annunciation: Ahaz is tempted by the Lord to ask for a sign but he will not. The Lord gives it anyways: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son named Emmanuel.

Thursday: (Genesis 17) The Lord said to Abraham: You are to become the father of a host of nations. You will become fertile; kings will stem from you.  

Friday: (Jeremiah 20) Terror on every side. Let us denounce him. The Lord is with me like a mighty champion.

Saturday: (Ezekiel 37) My dwelling shall be with my people. I will be their God and they shall be my people.  

Gospel: 

Monday: (John 8) A woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus for a verdict, but he does not answer as he calls upon those who are without sin to cast the first stone.

Tuesday: (John 8) Jesus tells the Pharisees that they will lift up the Son of Man and will then realized that I AM.

Wednesday: (Luke 1) Gabriel was sent to Mary of Nazareth to inform her that she has been chosen by the Lord to bear a son who will be called holy, the Son of God.

Thursday: (John 8) Whoever keeps my words will never see death. Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.

Friday: (John 10) The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus, but he wanted to know for which of the works he was condemned. He went back across the Jordan and remained there.

Saturday: (John 11) Many came to believe in Jesus. Caiaphas asked, “do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people?”

Saints of the Week

March 19: Joseph, husband of Mary is honored today for his support of Mary in their marriage. He is portrayed as a righteous man who obeys the will of God. Therefore, his ancestry is upheld as a virtuous stock through which God’s promises come true. We seldom contemplate his marital relationship to Mary and his responsibility to love and raise Jesus as his son. He was a descendent of King David and a carpenter or builder by trade. In Matthew's dream sequence, Joseph was embarrassed by Mary's pregnancy before their marriage, but went through with the wedding because he was a righteous man. He considered dissolving their marriage because of Mosaic Law, but is told in a dream to take Mary as his wife and to raise Jesus as his own. He is honored as the earthly father of Jesus.

March 23: Toribio of Mogrovejo, bishop (1538-1606) was a Spanish law professor in Salamanca who became the president of the Inquisition in Granada. As a layman, he was made the Archbishop of Lima, Peru and became quickly disturbed at the treatment of the native populations by the European conquerors. He condemned abuses and founded schools to educate the oppressed natives. He built hospitals and churches and opened the first seminary in Latin America.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      Mar 18, 1541. Two letters arrived from Lisbon from Francis Xavier. One was addressed to Ignatius, the other to Frs. LeJay and Laynez. They were written just before his departure to India.

·      Mar 19, 1836. By imperial decree, the Society was allowed to re-enter the Austrian dominions.

·      Mar 20, 1602. The first "Disputatio de Auxiliis" was held before Clement VIII. The disputants were Fr. Gregory de Valentia SJ and Fr. Diego Alvarez OP.

·      Mar 21, 1768. In Spain, at a special meeting of the Council of State in the presence of King Charles III, the Suppression of the Society was urged on the pretense that it was independent of the bishops, that it plotted against the State, and that it was lax in its teaching.

·      March 22, 1585: In Rome, Fr. General received the three Japanese ambassadors with great solemnity in the Society's Church of the Gesu.

·      March 23, 1772: At Rome, Cardinal Marefoschi held a visitation of the Irish College and accused the Jesuits of mismanagement. He removed them from directing that establishment.

·      March 24, 1578: At Lisbon Rudolf Acquaviva and 13 companions embarked for India. Among the companions were Matthew Ricci and Michael Ruggieri.