Sunday March 17, 2024
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT B
Office: Psalter Week 1
Mass prop. Creed. Preface of Passion I
Vestment: Violet
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
Vespers II of the 5th Sunday of Lent
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESOURCES MOBILIZATION AND FUND RAISING
The practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from this Sunday may be observed, if the Conference of Bishops so decides. Crosses remain covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, but images remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.
On the weekend of the fifth week of Lent, at the Office Readings. Morning Prayers and Evening Prayers, the Hymns for Holy Week may be sung.
Theme of the Sunday: GREAT IS ONE WHO LOVES!
The word of God this Sunday prepares us for Easter, for the passion and death and resurrection of Christ. It is not easy to understand why it happened. The gospel sees the death of Jesus as the manifestation of his love. The human being fulfills his goal and grows to maturity only when he is capable of love, when, that is, he gives his life for others. What for the world is defeat and shame, for him is victory and glory. The second reading gives us an invitation to follow Christ, a journey full of difficulties. He went ahead of us and knows our uncertainties and fears. The first reading gives us the prophecy of Jeremiah regarding the new covenant we are living in today, and the spirit of Christ provides us with strength to give our lives as he gave his.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON cf. Ps 43:1-2
Give me justice, O God, and plead my cause against a nation that is faithless. From the deceitful and cunning rescue me, for you, O God, are my strength.
The Gloria in excels is (Glory to God in the highest) is not said.
COLLECT
By your help, we beseech you, Lord our God, may we walk eagerly in that same charity with which, out of love for the world, your Son handed himself over to death. Through our Lord. . .
FIRST READING
“I will make a new covenant,… and I will remember their sin no more.”
A reading from the Book Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
“Behold, The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land Egypt, my covenant which they broke, and I showed myself their Master, says the Lord. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm51:3-4.12-13.14-15(R. 12b)
R/. Create a pure heart for me, O God.
Have mercy on me, O God,
According to your merciful love;
According to your great compassion,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me completely from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin. R/.
Create a pure heart for me, O God;
Renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
Take not your holy spirit from me. R/.
R/. Create a pure heart for me, O God.
Restore in me the joy of your salvation;
Sustain in me a willing spirit.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
That sinners may return to you. R/.
SECOND READING
“He learnt obedience, and he became the source of eternal salvation.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 5:7-9)
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learnt obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.
The word of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION John12:26
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. If any one serves me, he must follow me, says the Lord; and where I am, there shall my servant be also. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
GOSPEL
“If a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it bears much fruit.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 12:20-33
At that time: Among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus. And Jesus answered them. “The hour has come for the son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly. I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the father will honour him. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowed standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Other said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show by what death he was to die.
The Gospel of the Lord. *
The Creed (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
God our Father invites us to yield a rich harvest through a life of selflessness. Let us pray for the grace to be able to die to ourselves for the sake of our salvation and the good of others.
FOR THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH: that they may be strengthened in tirelessly proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR THOSE IN CIVIL AUTHORITY: that they may focus less on themselves and more on the promotion of the good of those they have been called to serve. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS: that they may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OURSELVES AND THE GRACE TO BE SELFLESS: that the lord, who gave up his life for our sake, may lead us to serve others with our counting the cost. Let us pray to the Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, Church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. Let us pray to the Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
God our father, you continue to renew your love for us. May your grace at work in us recreate our hearts and fill them with a sincere love for you. Through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
God entered into a covenant with the Israelites through the Patriarch Moses. By the terms of that covenant, he would be their God and they would be his people. The Israelites failed woefully to keep their own part of the covenant by abandoning the true God to go after the false gods of other nations. God decided on a new covenant to replace the old one. The new covenant would be sealed with the blood of his only-begotten Son, unlike the old covenant which was sealed with the blood of animals. Like a grain of wheat, Jesus, the Son of God, would first die only to rise again and bear much fruit. That fruit would be the people of the new covenant. They, in their turn, must be prepared to die with Jesus before they can bear any fruit of their own. They must be prepared to hate their life in this world in order to keep it for eternity.
TODAY’S SAINT AND QUOTE: St Patrick – March 17th
-Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.
-The Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart, so that I should recall my sins.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL FOR LENT
We are gifted in different ways, but by the same God and our gifts are meant to be put into use for the glory of God. Therefore, when you refuse to use your gift(s) or stop others from using their gift(s), you will be doing the world and yourself a disservice and most importantly you will be disrespecting God who has generously endowed you with these gifts.
Take a deep inner look at yourself and see the gifts you have that are lying dormant and yearning to be put into use. Activate them and use them for God’s glory and be ready to let others use their own gifts which you do not have for the glory of God too.
Today, make use of that your gift for the good of others and more importantly to the glory of God. You have freely received from God, therefore, be willing and ready to use the gifts freely for the good of humanity. Do not let your gift waste away anymore.
Daily Reading for Sunday March 17, 2024
Reading 1, Jeremiah 31:31-34
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15
Gospel, John 12:20-33
Reading 2, Hebrews 5:7-9
Reading 1, Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 ‘Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall make a new covenant with the House of Israel (and the House of Judah),
32 but not like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of Egypt, a covenant which they broke, even though I was their Master, Yahweh declares.
33 No, this is the covenant I shall make with the House of Israel when those days have come, Yahweh declares. Within them I shall plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I shall be their God and they will be my people.
34 There will be no further need for everyone to teach neighbour or brother, saying, “Learn to know Yahweh!” No, they will all know me, from the least to the greatest, Yahweh declares, since I shall forgive their guilt and never more call their sin to mind.’
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15
3 For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind.
4 Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement,
12 Give me back the joy of your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit.
13 I shall teach the wicked your paths, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will acclaim your saving justice.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will speak out your praise.
Gospel, John 12:20-33
20 Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.
21 These approached Philip, who came from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him, ‘Sir, we should like to see Jesus.’
22 Philip went to tell Andrew, and Andrew and Philip together went to tell Jesus.
23 Jesus replied to them: Now the hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.
24 In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest.
25 Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
26 Whoever serves me, must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.
27 Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it is for this very reason that I have come to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name! A voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will again glorify it.’
29 The crowd standing by, who heard this, said it was a clap of thunder; others said, ‘It was an angel speaking to him.’
30 Jesus answered, ‘It was not for my sake that this voice came, but for yours.
31 ‘Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be driven out.
32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all people to myself.’
33 By these words he indicated the kind of death he would die.
Reading 2, Hebrews 5:7-9
7 During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, with loud cries and with tears, to the one who had the power to save him from death, and, winning a hearing by his reverence,
8 he learnt obedience, Son though he was, through his sufferings;
9 when he had been perfected, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation
