There are few phrases in the Gospel as challenging as the Lord’s words in the Gospel reading of this last Sunday of Lent: «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»[1]. Jesus’ idea is clear: with our life the same thing happens as with the grain of wheat, which has to die to release all its energy and produce fruit one day. If it does not die, it remains alone on the ground. On the contrary, if it dies, it rises again, bringing with it new grains and new life. So, the Lord hints that his death, far from being a failure, will be precisely what will give fruitfulness to his life, and at the same time he invites us Christians to live according to this paradoxical law: to give life it is necessary to die. You cannot beget life without giving your own. You cannot help living if you are not willing to go out of your way for others. No one contributes to a more just and humane world by living attached to their own well-being. No one works seriously for the kingdom of God and his justice, if he is not willing to assume the risks and rejections, the conflict and persecution that Jesus suffered. We spend our lives trying to avoid suffering and problems. The culture of pleasure and well-being pushes us to organize ourselves in the most comfortable and pleasant way possible. That’s the highest ideal! However, there are sufferings and renunciations that it is necessary to assume if we want our life to be fruitful and creative. Hedonism is not a mobilizing force; the obsession with one’s own well-being belittles people. We are getting used to living it all, closing our eyes to the suffering of others. It seems the smartest and most sensible thing to do to be happy. Well, it’s a mistake! Surely, we will be able to avoid some problems and troubles, but our well-being will be increasingly empty, boring and sterile, our religion increasingly sad and selfish and meanwhile, the oppressed and afflicted want to know if anyone cares about their pain. Christians, will we do something for them? • AE

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[1] Jn 12:20-33.

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Fr. Agustin’s Schedule for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (2021)

Saturday, March 20, 2021.

4.00 p.m. Sacrament of Confession 5.30 p.m. English Mass @ St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church.

Sunday March 21, 2021.

8.30 a.m. English Mass @ Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (Outdoors mass)

10.30 p.m. English Mass @ Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (Outdoors mass)

5.30 p.m. English Mass @ St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church.

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V Domingo de Cuaresma (2021)

A propósito del evangelio de hoy, decía San Juan de la Cruz: «No quieras enviarme ya más mensajero, que no saben decirme lo que quiero». Aquellos gentiles que se acercan a Felipe con este deseo: «Quisiéramos ver a Jesús» ¡Qué maravilloso deseo! Mucha gente no tiene claro quién fue Jesús y por qué ha tenido tanta influencia en la historia. Se preguntan por qué es tan diferente de otros personajes y qué puede aportamos en nuestros días. A mi juicio, el mejor camino para sintonizar con él es acercarse personalmente a los evangelios y conocer directamente el relato de los evangelistas. Jesús no deja a nadie indiferente. Sus palabras penetrantes, sus gestos imprevisibles, su vitalidad y amor a la vida, su confianza total en el Padre, su manera de defender a los desgraciados, su libertad frente a todo poder, su lucha contra la mentira y los abusos, su comprensión hacia los pecadores, su cercanía al sufrimiento humano, su acogida a los despreciados, su interés por hacer más digna y dichosa la vida de todos… nos ponen ante la Persona -así con mayúscula- más excepcional y más maravillosa que jamás haya existido, y suscitan un interrogante: ¿qué misterio se encierra en este Hombre? Quien se acerca a Jesucristo -y podemos hacerlo a través de la lectura diaria del evangelio- y sintoniza con él descubre todo lo que él puede aportarnos para encontrar un sentido acertado a nuestra vida, para vivir con dignidad y sensatez, y para caminar día a día movidos por una esperanza indestructible • AE

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