17 March, 2024 | Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I : Jer 31:31-34 | Reading II : Heb 5:7-9

Gospel Jn 12:20-33

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast

came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, 

and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”

Philip went and told Andrew; 

then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

Jesus answered them, 

“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.

Whoever serves me must follow me, 

and where I am, there also will my servant be.

The Father will honor whoever serves me.

“I am troubled now.  Yet what should I say?

‘Father, save me from this hour’?

But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.

Father, glorify your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven, 

“I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”

The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; 

but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

Jesus answered and said, 

“This voice did not come for my sake but for yours.

Now is the time of judgment on this world; 

now the ruler of this world will be driven out.

And when I am lifted up from the earth, 

I will draw everyone to myself.”

He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

Reflections:

There have been times in the lives of all of us that something quite significant has happened. Someone said something or did something that had a great impact on our lives.  Or it may have been some sudden realisation we had about ourselves that changed our lives for ever. People felt the same about Jesus. Jesus saw the disciples and us as His partners. He has work for us to do. It means following Him as disciples, doing what the commandments tell us  to do, walking in His steps.

Activity

Today  gaze at the crucifix  and let  it speak to you of God's infinite love for you.

Reflections: Agnelo Nazareth 

Voice:Leah