Sunday 21 March 2021

 “I solemnly assure you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. The person who loves his life loses it, while the person who hates his life in this world preserves it to life eternal.”  John 12:24-25 

There are just two more weeks of Lent for the Western Churches and there are many challenges around that may be distracting us in this season.

We are dealing with fatigue that comes from living with continuing uncertainty; anxiety about new waves of COVID-19 infections in our near neighbours of Timor Leste, Papua Province and Papua New Guinea;  the need for meaningful change in the treatment of women and girls and the end of gender-based violence; lack of information about the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for the public; and the end of special income support payments that have helped us through a pandemic year.   

Sunday’s gospel passage asks us is to “dig deep”. Find a quiet space or quiet moment apart, take a breath and spend some time with God to deepen our love in the Lord so it can stand up to death and overcome it.

In Jesus’ love, death is not the end of life but the end of sin, suffering and death. Jesus’ love overcomes our uncertainty, anxiety, frustrated anger, confusion and distress. In Jesus’ love, death is the beginning and we see this when we come into our Easter season of love Divine, peace and joy.

So with two weeks remaining in our Lenten journey, take a moment to be renewed by a new approach to fasting, one of our traditional Lenten practices that prepares us for the Easter promises of love, peace and joy.

The Fast Life

Fast from judging others;

Feast on Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from fear of illness;

Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute;

Feast on speech that purifies.

Fast from discontent;

Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger;

Feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism;

Feast on hope.

Fast from negatives;

Feast on encouragement.

Fast from bitterness;

Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern;

Feast on compassion.

Fast from suspicion;

Feast on truth.

Fast from gossip;

Feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm;

Feast on prayer that sustains.

Fast from anxiety;

Feast on faith.

- Author Unknown, Source: Xavier University JesuitResource.org 

Liz Stone, NCCA General Secretary