Homily of the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year B: 2024
“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.” This is one of my favorite verses in the gospel. I have learned that: if you know how to live, you will know how to die. Jesus came to the world with a mission from his Father. So he was ready to lay down his life for that mission. Some Greeks came to Jerusalem to seek Jesus; that means they were seeking a way of life. Then Jesus gave them a new way of life: “whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.” Two Sundays ago, we heard the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. Saint Paul said: “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom.” Detach from this world is Jesus’ wisdom. We are in the world, but we do not belong to the world. Christians use things in this world to bear fruits of eternal life. Whatever does not help us to go to heaven, we have to get rid of it. That is Jesus’ wisdom.
Jesus’ disciples are not afraid to die for others. Parents can sacrifice their life for their children; Martyrs of God can die for the truth; and Saints of God can die for others. Dying in Christian spirituality is different from world view. In Christian spirituality we have to put to death what causes us to sins such as, selfish pleasures, lust, greed, envy, hate or laziness, etc. It is painful to quit a bad habit that we enjoy doing. For example: it is painful to stop an addiction to pornography, alcohol, or gambling, etc. It is painful to give up our pride and our control to forgive others and to serve our church. It is always uncomfortable to follow God’s commandments and the Church’s teachings on faith and morality.
Obedience is always a tough lesson for humans to learn. In this last week of Lent, we focus our mind on Jesus' obedience. On the cross, we see the perfect example of obedience. Jesus and all the saints in the Church obey God’s will because they trust God totally. The amazing grace is this: When we submit our life to the Lord, He will make our lives fruitful. Jesus said: “when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” Saint Paul said: “Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we prepare our soul to celebrate the Paschal mystery of Christ, we reflect on Jesus’ perfect examples of obedience to his Father. He obeyed his Father till death, and died on the Cross. Can I do it? You ask. Yes, each of us can do it if we trust Him enough. Million Christians around the world and throughout centuries had done it, and they had their rewards in heaven now. Remember that: our daily crosses always bring forth salvation to ourselves and to others.
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