fifth sunday in lent

I don’t know if you are like me, but I am just in awe that this is the final Sunday before Holy Week.  This Sunday in our Gospel from John 12:20-33, we will hear Jesus proclaim, “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.”
 
I can’t help but sit and pray in our church and be drawn into the mysteries of our faith by just taking everything in that is found in our sanctuary.  Our lent banners, “He died so that I may live,” and “Forgiven,” speak so beautifully to this passage from Sacred Scripture.  Jesus died for each one of us so that we may live.  Jesus died for our sins.  So many times, in our world the message is you only live once, and if it feels good, just do it.  Many around us act like this is the only life and there is no life other than the one we know today.  As disciples of Christ, we know otherwise.  We believe that there is a life after this one here on earth.  When we die, we journey from life to life, life here on earth to life to eternal life.  There is a resurrection.  All of this and so much more helps us to understand that there is more to living, and that everything we do today helps us to prepare for the life to come.
 
This is what Lent is all about.  Preparing, striving to move closer and closer to being one with Christ, and mirroring Christ here on earth.  Jesus’ death opened the gates of eternal life.  He died for our sins.  When we turn to God and confess our sins, we are forgiven, and receive grace, the sharing in the supernatural life of Christ, so that we may live.  Our crucifix and Jesus’ dying on the cross makes this real for us, now in the most profound of ways.
 
As we journey through this Fifth Week of Lent together and prepare for Holy Week, the holiest of weeks for us in the Church, please know of my prayers.  I pray that you will open your heart to encounter Christ in the sacraments, and receive the graces you need live.  Embrace these days ahead.  Consider coming to weekday Mass.  Join us for our Lent Penance Service, either in person or virtually.  Pray the Stations of the Cross with our community this Friday.  Immerse yourself into the mysteries of our faith, so that you may live today, in this life, and prepare for the life to come.
 
Keep safe, and may God continue to bless you and those that you love.
Fr. Greg
 
P.S.  Happy first day of Spring