The Fifth Sunday of Lent
Back when I used to work in New York City, I often went to daily Mass during my lunch break. Occasionally, I would pass by some homeless people as I walked to the Church and back to my office. In the first few weeks of this routine, I would just pass by them and think to myself that there was nothing I could do to help them. Some days, I convinced myself that I would get in trouble at work if I didn’t get back on time. After some time of doing this, my heart started to feel burdened, and I stopped to really think about what I was doing. Was I really ok with just going on and not doing anything to help these people? There I was, going to daily Mass and thinking that I was doing something good for myself and telling myself that I love Jesus. While outside of Mass, I wasn’t doing what Jesus had commanded me to do in John 21:15-17. To tend and feed his sheep.
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus’ humanity is reflected. Remember, Jesus is fully God and fully man at the same time. He says “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’” In this verse, Jesus expresses his concern about the trial that He is about to face: his crucifixion and death. Like all of us, Jesus faced trials. Even though He is God, He came down from heaven to become human so He can share in our suffering and death. But rather than turning away and asking God to save him from this trial, Jesus goes on to say “But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” When I read this verse, it made me think of how many times I’ve given in to the sin of indifference. In the busyness of life, I tend to get caught up in my own life. I end up focusing on my own needs that I forget that I’m not the only one who is going through trials in life. This verse is such a powerful example of how selfless Jesus is and just how much He loves us. Even though He knew that He was going to be crucified, He still went on and faced His trial so that through His death, we would be saved and God’s name would be glorified.
I eventually admitted to my wrongdoings and started to help whoever I saw in need. Whenever I passed by a person who was homeless, I would stop to acknowledge and talk to them, buy them food or ask them what I could do to help. Jesus’ voice kept speaking to me when I took the time to stop focusing on my own agenda, quieted my heart and asked him to speak to me. I realized that in doing what He has called me to do, I am making room for people to get to know God through my actions. Not so I can be recognized, but so that people may know his glory through what He has called me to do. Ultimately, in serving Jesus by helping other people, we get to live a more fulfilling life, and experience his love, to the fullest extent.
If Jesus gave in to his troubles and didn’t go through with his crucifixion, we wouldn’t be saved from our sins and the gates of heaven wouldn’t be opened to us. His perfect example of selfless love is something that we should strive to follow.
