FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (B)
“PASSIONTIDE”
Today’s Readings remind us of the promise of a New Covenant, a new heart, the forgiveness of sins – that have been gained through the ‘hour’ of the Lord’s redeeming passion.
3/14 Dear Brothers, a few of us here this morning may remember – that some years ago, this 5th Sunday of Lent – was known as “Passion Sunday”. It marked the beginning of “Passiontide”, lasting until Easter.
I recall an incident, years ago, involving two young men wildly carousing on a certain Saturday. The next day, one said to the other: “I just remembered, today is Palm Sunday!!” Gratefully, no one here is so ill- disposed. But today, this 5th Sunday of Lent, this very special penitential season of the Church year, is nearly over! We might ask ourselves – how are we doing so far – in disposing ourselves for the celebration of Passiontide?
When reading my Lenten Book the other day, I came across a homily – for this very Sunday of Lent! I’d like to share with you some of the thoughts expressed there -with regard to our ‘disposition’ at present. The homily was originally directed to lay-persons, but all – lay-persons and monks – are sinners.
(Extensive quotation) “The desire to embrace his Father’s plan of redeeming love inspired Jesus’ whole life, for his redemptive passion – was the very reason for his Incarnation.
How little are our sorrows compared to those of the Lord, how little our pain, our hardships, our persecutions, compared to those he undertook for us. How base and miserable are we for understanding them so littlr, so little impressed by them.
Doesn’t it stand to reason that we must be in a very irrelegious state of mind, unless we have some little gratitude, some little sympathy, some little love, some little awe, some little self-reproach, some little self-abasement, some little repen-tance, some little desire for amendment, in consequence of what He has done and suffered for us? Why are things with you as they are? Will Good Friday, and Easter Day pass by and will you still be as you were? Why is this? Because you so little meditate and therefore are little impressed. (Webster – meditate’s 1st syn. Is to contemplate, – ‘ponder’)
What is meditating on Christ? It is simply this:, thinking habitually and constantly of him and of his deeds and sufferings. It is to have him before our minds as One whom we may contemplate , worship and address when we rise up, when we lie down, when we eat and drink, when we are at home and abroad, when we are working, or walking, or as rest, when we are alone, and again when we are in company; this is meditating. This, even the most unlearned person can do, and will do, if he, or she, has a will to do it. Can a less thing be asked of you – when He has done the work, that you should only have to believe it and accept it?
We cannot force ourselves into such feelings. We can grow in grace until we so feel. We can observe such outward abstinence from innocent pleasures and comforts of life. When we meditate on Christ’s sufferings we shall be gradually brought to these deep feelings Pray to God to do for us for what we cannot do for
ourselves. To make us feel; to give us the spirit of gratitude, love, reverence, self-abasement, godly fear, repentance, and lively faith; to have tender, sensitive, loving hearts.” (End Quote)
May our obedient Lenten repentance and whatever suffering we may encounter thereby during Passiontide, be pleasing to God – who loves to forgive – may open us to the Deep Joy of Easter – at the Resurrection of his obedient and Risen Son. Amen. (Quotes from Saint John Henry Newman)
(Jer. 31: 31-34, Heb. 5: 7-9, Jn. 12: 20-33) Fr Alan Gethsemani