5th Sunday of Lent

March 29, 2009

Jer 31:31-34
Heb 5:7-9
Jn 12:20-33

Around us everyday, we see many examples of death bringing forth life. A kernel of corn is buried and it grows into a tall cornstalk. The ice cube dissolves and it cools the water. A match burns itself to light a fire. Water gets dirty to clean you. A battery goes dwad giving you music and light. Wood burns itself out to cook your food. A tree dies to give you sago. Animals and plants die to give you your food. By dying, these entire things rise to a higher life…(Frank Mihalic, 1000 Stories You Can Use)

Similarly, Jesus says, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” To borrow the words of Rev. Jeffrey M. Kemper, “Jesus doesn’t just mean the example for himself, but for all of us. We all have parts of us that die so that new life can come about: we die to the security of the womb to be born into the world; we die to the stages of earlier childhood to grow into teenagers, and die to the qualities of teenage life to become adults. This is a natural part of being human, of being alive.”

What needs to die in us so that God’s life may grow in us, twenty, thirty, or a hundred fold?

1. Do we need to let our own talking die so that we can listen to others? Wise men say that it is quite easy to become an interesting conversationalist if you remember this rule: learn to listen and be a sincere listener. The reason why so few people are agreeable in conversation is that each one is thinking more of what s/he is intending to say than of what others are saying and we never listen when we are planning to speak. Epictetus says: God has given us one tongue but two ears so that we may hear from the other twice as much as we speak.
2. Do we need to let our judgments of people – especially those in our families or work places – so that God’s image of them may be seen? Can you imagine yourself before God in judgment? Every detail of your life will be exposed to examination. Every thoughtless word, every idle moment, all the useless criticisms of others, false charges and accusations against others, all the moments of self exaltation and pride, every revelation of hidden faults of others and so on will be made in the presence of God. All the secret judgment of your brothers and sisters will be brought forth and condemned by God himself.
3. Do we need to let our time in front of the TV or the CD player die so that we may hear God speaking to us in the Scriptures or in silent prayer? A certain priest Holtzinger offers these suggestions: turn off your television more often. Listen to silence for a while. Stop entertaining yourself and pray for the good of others. Slow down. Look around you. Notice the people in your life. Notice the sky, the flowers, the smells in the air. Stop talking to yourself and start listening to God. Turn off the music for a moment and focus on the gift of life and why you are here. Start counting your blessings. Find the greatness that resides in every person you meet. Decide to be grateful. Then you have prepared your heart for the gift of faith… in this season of Lent, it would be a very good chance for us to reflect upon the areas we need to die so that we renew our broken relationship with God and others.


Fr. Deva, SVD
Our Lady of the Pillar Parish
San Isidro, Abra