March 21: Fifth Sunday of Lent

Reading I: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Responsorial Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15
Reading II: Hebrews 5:7-9
Gospel: John 12:20-33

Jeremiah 31: 31-34
When have you sensed God’s covenant written on your heart? Was it when you married and looked upon your newborn child and grandchild and watched your child asleep? And was it when your paralyzed loved one walked? And when has God forgiven evil-doing? That is hard to fathom. The biblical stories of God forgiving David and Moses and Joseph’s brothers have stunned humanity for thousands of years. It is all part of that covenant God has written on each of our hearts. This Lent let’s get in touch with that personal promise God made to us that is far more permanent than any tattoo. God’s covenant is the real deal.

Psalm 51: 3-4, 12-15
Here is a psalm to print in bold letters and tape to your shaving mirror or your computer top: Create in me a clean heart…Have mercy on me...in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt… a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me...and a willing spirit sustain in me...I will teach transgressors our ways, and sinners shall return to you. Each phrase could be our constant prayer, a mantra for a day or a week. What a wonderful world we’ll co-create with God as we pray this psalm with intensity.

Hebrews 5: 7-9
Jesus was fully human as he prayed, learned, wept, suffered, and died. These Lenten days we can sit with Jesus and look at the ways we spend our energy and time and money. We can ask Jesus to show you he is the source of your eternal salvation.

John 12: 20-33
Today’s gospel describes life’s purpose. It is not what we may first think; strong influences in our world suggest our purpose is to seek money, prestige, popularity, possessions, ease, and power. Compare those purposes to our God-given purpose to lay down our lives for one another, for the common good. We learn its meaning by asking God what to let die in ourselves in order to better serve the common good. We’re given the grace to fall in love with humanity. Remember the great spiritual writer, monk Thomas Merton standing at a busy city street corner and sensing an overwhelming love for all humanity? That all-inclusive love helps us cope with the reality that we are merely a grain of wheat planted here to be bread for one another. Throughout our lives, we see a pattern of dying and rising. As we fall in love we let somethings go for the greater good of building a life with our loved ones. When we have children we let go of somethings in order to nurture our children. We later let go of our children so as not to hamper their unique purpose. We take care of our parents, our disabled spouse, child, and neighbor. We die to selfishness in order for more people to have dignity, compassion, and love. “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.” Here are just two examples: Our two parishes Social Justice Outreach team collected and delivered your gifts to an RCSD school. #1 - Kathi and Ron Stolte filled a truck and car with boxes and bags of needed personal items and school supplies. On March 23 at 10:30 am we will deliver your donations of needed nutritious snack foods to sustain children on their school break. #2 - RocACTS never gave up seeking Rochester Regional Health to pay a minimum of $15 an hour to employees! On March 12 we bore fruit! And we are still working at securing living wages for home health aides!

Deni Mack,DMin, Pastoral Associate Emerita