March 17th, 2024 - Fifth Sunday of Lent

Jesus speaks in the gospel today about a single grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies, but then bears much fruit. And as it turns out, Jesus is that grain of wheat.  He who is the Lord of lords loses his life in sacrificial love of others and in fidelity to his mission. He who is our sovereign King falls to the ground and dies and is buried in the earth, a loser, a failure in the eyes of some, but for us who know better, he is the greatest winner of all, the source of our eternal salvation. My friends, it is fine for us to aspire to be a winner in life, but the Christian life runs so much deeper than that! Life in Christ is about giving so that others may receive and live. It is about extending ourselves in charity to our neighbors in need, especially the poor, the sick, the hungry, the stranger, and everyone on the margins of life.