Fifth Sunday of Lent

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s readings we find one of the Old Testament’s most powerful descriptions of the forthcoming New Covenant, an acknowledgment that Gentiles are called to that New Covenant and a dialogue in which the Father confirms the divinity of Jesus. Included in all of this is, “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.” (Jn 12:24) My reflection focuses on the theme of that passage as it runs through the events described in the readings. When considering the death of the grain of wheat, I do not view the grain of wheat as coming to an end. Instead, one could view the grain as being transformed into something that is a more complete expression of itself. The seed is converted from potential to fulfillment. The fulfillment of God’s word is foreshadowed in today’s reading from the Old Testament. This reading announces God’s intent to form a “new covenant” with mankind. However, this does not mean that the Old Covenant has been revoked. The Old Covenant, like the grain of wheat, is being more fully expressed in the Gospel where the seed has become the orchard through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

In describing the New Covenant in our first reading, the Lord provides “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts.” (Jer 31:33) The Lord’s commitment to providing the New Covenant is fulfilled through Jesus or as the book of John connects the Old and New Testament: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (Jn 1:16) The manner in which that New Covenant is fulfilled by God is highlighted in the subsequent readings.

The second reading and the Gospel reading highlight the suffering that the human nature of Jesus encountered while preparing for his crucifixion and death. Facing the cross, Jesus turns to the Father for strength, and God responds by confirming his divinity in a manner that is similar to what is described at his baptism (Mt 3:13-17) and transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-5). Strengthened by prayer, Jesus obediently accepts death on the cross, from which the fruit that is born is the redemption of the world.

Perhaps, in part, the Gospel reading is an invitation for us to look for seeds in our life that can be converted into fruit while we are still in this world. While the conversion of this potential into fulfillment can lead to a sense of loss as we begin to reject our attachment to the world, if we follow Christ’s example of turning to the Father for assistance, we will be provided with the strength that we need to become a more complete expression of the image and likeness of our Creator.

- John Sperino