HOMILY 5th Sunday of Lent cycle B March 21, 2021

 HOMILY    5^th Sunday of Lent   cycle B    March 21, 2021

           Our second reading today speaks of the ever popular topic of  “obedience”.   We heard: “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;”     This is a difficult, if not distasteful, passage.   So let’s talk about suffering and obedience.

          Many of you very well may have suffered over the previous year.  Maybe you yourself got sick with the virus.   Maybe members of your family were ill and this distressed you.   Perhaps you lost family and friends to the virus.  Very likely you know someone who has died.  Maybe you were impacted economically, loosing income or even your job, falling behind in bills, maybe even not having enough to eat.  `

          Or maybe you lost heat and power and water in the big storm a few weeks ago.  Maybe you suffered in the cold and dark, unable to go for help, or for groceries, or even to check on your loved ones. 

          There has been plenty of suffering this past year, and perhaps you have had your share. 

          Did that suffering teach you obedience????   Our second reading today asserts, “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.”  And we are called to imitate Christ, to follow Jesus’ example.  “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.”

//        Texans have many admirable qualities:  of self-reliance, of guts and stick-to-itive-ness, of honesty and straight shooting, of independence and others.   But “obedience” is not a quality I immediately associate with Texans.        So, how are we called to follow Jesus in learning obedience from what we suffer?

           What does that mean?  I find this difficult to grasp and understand.

In the Gospel Jesus gives us a paradox: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.   Amen, amen, I say to you, 
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, 
it remains just a grain of wheat;  but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.”

          Jesus speaks of being glorified even though he is about to be falsely condemned, whipped and then executed by crucifixion.  It doesn’t fit together.   //  Jesus’ obedience is not following commands or rules or laws, but rather is His profound trust that even in the midst ofand through this horrible tragedy, God the Father’s love is still with Him.  That God still cares for Him, that God is with Him.  Acting out of that belief is Jesus’ obedience. 

          In the same way, our obedience is not about following commands and orders, but rather is the profound act of trusting in God’s love and care for us even in the midst of the pandemic, even in the midst of sick and dying relatives and friends, even in the midst of economic disruption and hardship, even in the midst of freezing cold, without power or heat or water, and in spite of all that to continue to believe in God’s goodness and love for each one of us, and to act accordingly. 

          Jesus is glorified in being mocked and debased.  Jesus comes to the fullness of life by being brutally executed.  Jesus shows that He truly is the Son of God by continuing to totally rely on His heavenly Father.

           As members of the Body of Christ, as God’s beloved children, we are called to follow Jesus.  Jesus learned obedience from what He suffered.  We also learn to depend totally on God, which is what biblical obedience really is, by trusting in God and following God’s way even in the midst of sorrow and loss and pain. 

          Concretely that means not trying to escape the pain and sorrow by turning on those around us and trying to push off our hurt on them.  Jesus didn’t do that.   Rather Jesus accepted it and did not curse others, but rather prayed for forgiveness for His persecutors.   In this Jesus showed He was truly the Son of God.  In this He was glorified.

          We are called to follow and imitate Him.  AMEN.