Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (B) (18th
March, 2018) on the Gospel
Jer 31:31-34;
Ps 50:3-4.12-15 (R. v. 12);
Heb 5:7-9;
Jn 12:20-33.
A newly consecrated Bishop once asked during the
Episcopal conference whether he could talk. Although it was not certain whether
he asked that just to make them laugh however the question threw them into
light mood after which the president of the conference asked him why he asked
the question and he replied, ‘Because I am just a newly consecrated auxiliary
bishop’. The president went further and asked him as ‘just a newly consecrated
auxiliary bishop’ whether he is a member of the Bishops Conference and he said
yes. And the president told him: “You are a member because you are a bishop.
And every member can air his view”.
Topic: They want to see Jesus.
The first verse of today’s gospel reads, “Now among those who went up
to worship at the festival were some Greeks” (Jn 12:20). The festival in question was that one Jesus entered
Jerusalem triumphantly. Those Greeks who were present at the festival were also
the Greeks who came to Philip and made this request, “Sir, we wish to see
Jesus” (Jn 12:21). Although the
gospel did not tell us why they wanted to see Jesus but meeting with Jesus could
do much more than one could imagine. Hence the Psalmist said, “Come and see
what God has done” (Ps 66:5). And
when Andrew and the other disciple asked Jesus of where he lived he invited
them thus, “Come and see” (Jn 1:39).
Philip also invited Nathaniel to Jesus with the same words, cf. Jn 1:46.
In the gospel according to Matthew, while
commissioning his disciples Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19). Often we
see this and similar passages as directed to those who are called in a special
way to serve God and humanity in various capacities in the church. A question
came to me as I reflect on today’s gospel, ‘What about others?’ This is based
on the fact that Jesus said to his disciples, “But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In other words, the Holy Spirit gave the disciples the
power to be Christ’s witnesses. And every Christian receives gifts of the Holy
Spirit at Baptism and Confirmation, cf. Acts
2:38-39; 2Tim 1:6-7. What are they for?
Very easy for one to defend himself/herself by saying
that nobody has approached him/her saying, ‘I or we want to see Jesus’. In the
gospel according to Matthew we read, “... whoever causes one of these little
ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great
millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt 18:6; cf. Matt 18:14; Mk 9:42 Lk 17:2).
Again, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:16).
Although no one may have asked us, ‘I or we want to
see Jesus’ but certainly many look up to us to show them Jesus. We can either
help them see Jesus or take them farther away from Jesus. Hence, in the first
letter of Saint Peter we also read, “Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles,
so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good
deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1Pt 2:12; cf. Matt 5:16).
Saint Paul extended this to what we eat, cf. Rom 14:15.
My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, we all have
the power to be Christ’s witnesses. Let nobody think like the Auxiliary Bishop
we saw in our introductory story who thought he could not speak in the Bishops
conference because he was a newly consecrated Auxiliary Bishop. We all are
members of Christ’s body, the church, cf. Eph
5: 23, 30. Every member of Christ’s body has this special task of not just
making people see Jesus Christ but also helping them to understand him better.
Every member of Christ’s body can either help or hinder others in their search
for Jesus Christ. Let us conclude with Christ’s own words: “Whoever is not with
me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matt 12:30; Lk 11:23). Let us gather
with and for Christ for we have been bought at a price, cf. 1Cor 7:23.
Bible Readings: Matt 5:13-16; 28:19-20; Dan 12:1-3; Acts 1:6-11;
Rom 14: 13-23; 15:1-6; 1Pt 2:11-17.
Thought for today: Do you take people to Jesus Christ or out of Jesus
Christ?
Let us pray: Lord,
forgive us for the many times we have led people away from you. Give us the
grace to lead others to you – Amen.
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