Do I Have to Die? Death of the Grain Without Any Thought of Its Transformation and the Bountiful Harvest That Will Ho Has Not Asked This Question, at Least to Come

March 21, 2021 Fifth Sunday of Lent (B) Jer 31:31–34 Heb 5:7–9 Jn 12:20–33

Do I Have to Die? death of the grain without any thought of its transformation and the bountiful harvest that will ho has not asked this question, at least to come. We must not minimize Jesus’ suffering. However, Woneself? It’s a valid question, because at the it was precisely by means of his having been lifted up core of every living being is the drive to live. Jesus also on the cross in suffering and death that he was lifted must have asked this question. Today’s Gospel account up in glory and exaltation. This is why we claim that implies this in John 12:27. (“I am troubled now.”) death is not the end of life but the gateway to new life. Despite his passion for living, Jesus was more passionate So, as difˋ cult as it might be to leave the life we love, about the transformation that would take place later. like Jesus we have to die in order to enter that new life. The example of the grain that must die if a harvest of Sr. Dianne Bergant, CSA wheat is to be produced is a perfect metaphor to make this point. Just as the grain is insigniˋ cant compared For Reflection with the possible harvest, so—our faith assures us— there is no comparison between this life and the : Begin to place yourself in God’s hands with little wondrous transformation that awaits us. And yes, in things so that you are better able to do so in order to move from this life to that splendorous future, bigger things. we will have to die. : The second reading reminds us that Christ is the Our Lenten meditations will soon focus on the source of our eternal salvation. Spend a moment suffering and death of Jesus. However, to concentrate in gratitude for this great gift. solely on suffering and death is like examining the MONKEY BUSINESSMONKEY IMAGES/SHUTTERSTOCK

[Jesus asked,] “Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.” JOHN 12:27

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03/22 † Robert Wee by Verna Mae Schwaller Steven Pickering, Carmen Gonzalez, Paul Doyle, Jean Myers, Julia Milos, Cris Sanchez, 03/23 † Bill Miller by Felipe Madrigal Cathy Nolan, Daniel Hansler, Angela Zavala, 03/23 † Resi Daberkow by Inge Cooper Domingo Panglao, Jeffrey Viernes, Pricilla Sanchez, 03/24 † MaryAnn Zack by Norma Mulligan & Family Janice Slusher, Marcelina Jones, Donna Zacher, Katie 03/25 † Ces Wolary by Charlotte Wiard Meuser, Kathy Cope, Sara Mott Beal, Maria Mindt, Gary Gibson, Rosemary Fronczak, Diane Lagorio, Paul 03/25 L Tomlinson Family Weber, Earl Tice, Blanche Windham, Barbara Hoover, 03/26 † Dolores Sawyer by the Sawyer Children Patricia Garrison, Christy Powers, Vern Courtney, 03/26 † Larry Stone by Jenny Duffy Albert Trejo, Lucille Geddes, Michelle Cox, Graydon B. Young Jr., Joseph Janowiak, Miriam Dixon, Eileen Von Emster, Kaden & Koulton Lazon, Eric Rousseau, FAITH FORMTION NEWS Ramona Bratton, Jonathan Hayes, Kathy Edwards, Ysabella Sanchez, Maria Victoria Pilapil, Claire Rose, Carlan Meyer, Marie Hughes, David, Barbara Glosup, A YOUTH group Christine Kraning, Linda Makis, Rita Castro, Cliff Flannery, Wyatt Crowder, Andrea DuValle, Megan FUNdraiser! ¨ Miemiec, Jan Gates, Aurelio Jimenez, Marie Ferraiolo, Next week- Dana Douglas, Mary Perkins, Haylie Jo Allen, Diana end after ¨ Montgomery, Mike DuValle, Michael Nobriga, Herb all Masses. — Bizzell, Darrel Stovall, Brianna Himan, Nicholas March 26 Romero, William Conley, Carol Davis, Patricia Evans, Yelinia Khavin, Lyle & Leslie Mackey, Priscilla Lavin, & 27 Diane Hilton, Rosemary Raney, Mary Jean Hohn, Betty Jo Frazier, Darci White, Velia Dunn, Isaiah Carney, Easter baskets, filled ¨ Nancy Harrison, Cynthia McCarty, Julie Fitzgerald, with delightful goodies, Carol Ann Miller, Kelly Thompson, Phyllis Hoffman, Matthew Thomas, Kimberly Stanley, Martina Ortega, ¨ will be available. A Tom Kozlowski, Ascencion Lopez Garcia, Helen minimum $10 donation — Brickley is requested.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES COLLECTION ¡GRACIAS! This week, we take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection to Muchísimas gracias a todos los parroquia- help Jesus in disguise. This collection helps six Catholic agencies nos que de alguna forma o otra ayudan en provide relief and support for struggling communities and to nuestra parroquia. Por casi dos años, hemos work for peace and reconciliation among our marginalized broth- tenido la bendición de contar con el gran ers and sisters here and around the world. Envelopes for the trabajo de voluntarios para dar manteni- collection are now available at the table in the vestibule. Please miento en el cementerio y en la parroquia. prayerfully consider how you can support the collection. Learn Hace unos fines de semana, vinieron more about the collection at www.usccb.org/catholic-relief bastantes voluntarios para cortar dos inmensos arboles. No solo eso, pero Esta semana realizaremos The Catholic Relief Services Collection también contamos con voluntarios para para responder a Jesús con otro rostro, ¿le ayudarás? Esta colecta limpiar el altar, con el manejo de la cámara ayuda a seis agencias católicas a brindar alivio y apoyo a las para transmitir las misas en YouTube, con comunidades que luchan por salir adelante y trabajar por la paz y la sanitación después de las misas, con la reconciliación entre nuestras hermanas y hermanos marginados, ayuda en el departamento de Formación de aquí y alrededor del mundo. Sobres para esta colecta están dispo- Fe, y muchas otras formas de ayuda. Nues- nibles en la mesa en el vestíbulo. Por favor, en oración, considera tra parroquia fluye con el apoyo de tantas la manera en la que puedas contribuir a esta colecta. Aprende más personas. Muchas gracias a todos por su en www.usccb.org/catholic-relief gran voluntad de apoyo a la parroquia.

ONLINE GIVING PARA DONAR EN LINEA Visit our online giving page at http://giving.parishsoft.com/app/ Visite nuestra página de donaciones en línea en: http:// giving/sain3109251. giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/sain3109251. Calendar Monday MARCH 22 I’m a non-Catholic church secretary who receives Lenten Weekday Dn 13:1–9, 15–17, questions about a Purgatorial Society. What is it? 19–30, 33–62 “ hose who die in God’s grace and friendship imperfectly puriƂ ed, or 13:41c–62 Talthough they are assured of their eternal salvation, undergo a Jn 8:1–11 puriˋ cation after death, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter Tuesday the joy of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1054). This process of MARCH 23 puriˋ cation is known as purgatory. Saint Gregory the Great (540–604) wrote Lenten Weekday “certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to Nm 21:4–9 come” (see Dialogues 4, 39). This forgiveness of sins granted after death is also Jn 8:21–30 suggested in Matthew 12:32 and 2 Timothy 1:18. Wednesday Because Catholics believe we’re in communion with one another through MARCH 24 an active relationship that transcends death, our prayers and sacriˋ ces beneˋ t Lenten Weekday Dn 3:14–20, 91–92, 95 the deceased (see 2 Maccabees 12:38–46). Thus, a Purgatorial Society is a Jn 8:31–42 formal association of Catholics who offer prayers, Masses, and other works of charity to beneˋ t the souls in purgatory. Souls that get to heaven, in turn, Thursday offer their prayers to beneˋ t the living. This mutual assistance afˋ rms our MARCH 25 The Annunciation belief in an earthly and heavenly Church forming one body in Christ. of the Lord Purgatorial societies were especially prevalent from the Middle Ages Is 7:10–14, 8:10 through the previous century, but they’re currently seeing a revival in some Heb 10:4–10 church parishes and religious communities. Societies generally maintain a Lk 1:26–38 registry to enroll names Friday of the deceased so that MARCH 26 Masses are regularly Lenten Weekday offered for the holy souls Jer 20:10–13 in purgatory—especially Jn 10:31–42 during the month of Saturday November. MARCH 27 Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR Lenten Weekday [email protected] Ez 37:21–28 Jn 11:45–56

RENATA SEDMAKOVA/SHUTTERSTOCK RENATA Sunday MARCH 28 A WORD FROM Pope Francis Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord By visiting the tombs of our loved ones we remember that Mk 11:1–10 or we have a multitude of saints who before God intercede Jn 12:12–16 for our needs. Let us not forget, however, that so many Is 50:4–7 deceased also await our spiritual support. Let us remember Phil 2:6–11 them in our prayers…asking that they be welcomed into Mk 14:1—15:47 the ranks of the elect in heaven. or 15:1–39 GENERAL AUDIENCE, OCTOBER 31, 2018

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