FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT – Year B
By: Rev. Reginald Knight
‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’ John 12:21
‘All who see the sacred sign, Press towards heaven’s portal,’ Words from the Hymn written by John Allan Warner (1851-1928) #410 Hymnal.
With today’s gospel reading comes the shift to the beginning of the Passion and the response which Jesus makes as he is told that there were some Greeks waiting to see him, points us in the direction of the cross – a place to which Jesus himself is reluctant to go. Jesus is aware, however that in order for the glory of God to be further revealed he must pass through this dark hour as he described it.
One of the questions often asked about the story is: So what happened to the Greeks? Did they get to see Jesus after all? Why did they want to have this audience with him?
I am sure that you too have asked these questions. But as one Christian author offers: The story is not about the Greeks but about Jesus – the Greeks were merely a sign.
They are a sign for us today as well. They are the signs and the timely reminder that it is Jesus we are to look toward. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, and liturgically, as this week unfolds, we are to begin to cast our full attention directly to the cross.
We live in a world filled with distractions, much of it is not necessarily bad or evil, however, these things readily consume our time and our attention and it is so easy to look the other way and to focus on what appears to be more important or urgent at the time.
Sometimes and even unconsciously we think that Jesus can wait while we deal with this very important matter. We leave Jesus out of the picture because it’s too complexed a matter for him to resolve, or that it is too trivial or menial a task for him to resolve. Like the disciples we say: Why waste the master’s time with this which seems so frivolous?
Or we say, O the Lord will understand if I don’t do this.
So then – there is never enough time to pray; there is never enough time to read our bible or meditate on God’s word; there is never enough time for mission and evangelism; there is never enough time to spend with our Lord.
The idea of focusing on Jesus is about making that conscious decision and living by it – and committing to a life of devotion and adoration. It is about making Jesus the main priority in our life and desperately seeking to acquire those virtues for which he died on the cross: love, grace, compassion, peace, righteousness.
Today’s message is a reminder, too, that life will not always be easy especially when we commit to Christ. There will be those challenges we will be reluctant to pursue or to face. Remember, Jesus himself was reluctant to embrace the cross because he understood the cost. He knew of the great suffering ahead – the humiliation, the excruciating pain to be inflicted on him.
He also knew that the cross was the only recourse. He could not do otherwise but to keep his eyes fixed on his Father and on the mission of love.
We will have to, like Jesus, whenever we face such a dilemma, keep our eyes fixed on the one who knows us and loves us best and the who would never betray or abandon us.
Today is the perfect day, the right time to realize that we find fulfilment in the words ‘we want to see Jesus.’ We begin to discover our true selves and our real destiny as we are granted this request, as we are given that personal invitation to sit at the master’s feet and learn from him – to discover more and more the depth of his love, the wisdom he dispenses, the healing he offers, the comfort he gives, the peace he implants, the confidence he supplies, the hope he releases and the freedom he bestows. Then we can positively live, as children of God.
Today we are being pointed in the right direction – yearn as the Greeks did to be standing face to face with our Lord; to be in his holy presence.
Make these words your mantra as Holy Week approaches. Repeat these words until you feel yourself transported to a place where you know only Christ could have brought you and pray that you will become a sign for some other longing soul.
Today as we join in corporate worship with the Choir and men Fellowship; these two organisations are being reminded of your calling to be a sign for others in their quest to seek Jesus.
The choir through its wonderful music and the men’s fellowship through its many outreach programs, must play your part in leading the church thus advancing Gods Kingdom.
This morning as we journey with Jesus to Jerusalem and experience the challenges he is about to face; as we consider the men and women who were with him following the signs which lead to a renewed way of life; and as we recognize the commitment to service, you must point lost persons to salvation in Christ and equipping them with the Biblical tools for spiritual growth and development.
Your ministry must be one which encourages others to fully surrender to Jesus Christ, your activities must include prayer with and for each other and for your church. You men must ask yourselves the question, ‘How are we engaging lost men in our community and leading them to Christ?’ the Choir must look beyond just singing your nice music, but you too must seek to discover your spiritual gifts by developing hearts of evangelism and mission and be empowered to reproduce spiritually.
Brothers and sisters, the hope of the world is the church, and we have seen this in the way society has been affected by the closing of our doors over the past few months due to COVID-19, the way in which persons read the signs which pointed to a renewed way in how we must minister.
Today Christ is asking you to accompany him on this journey. It will have its challenges, some of the signs may be difficult to read, but he is looking for organisations (men and women) like you; who will be prepared to step up and as the hymn writer tells us in Hymn 410:
All who see the sacred sign
Press towards heaven’s portal,
Fired by hope that is divine,
Love that is immortal.
So the challenge today for you both is that you go forth today and:
‘let your words and actions be; worthy of your vocation.’
