Fifth Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 5:7-9, and John 12:20-33. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 51 (Psalm 51:3-4, 12-15).

For a version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Psalm 51 Create a Clean Heart In Me O God

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

Jesus answered them, "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. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour?' But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."

The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, "An angel has spoken to him."

Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 25, 2012)

Msgr. Charles Pope: The Cross Wins, It Always Wins. A Meditation on the Gospel of the Fifth Sunday of Lent (24 MAR 12)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Unless a Grain of Wheat

The Quiet Corner: Those who reject the world will discover their inner worth (22 MAR 12)

The Deacon's Bench: Homily for March 25, 2012: 5th Sunday of Lent (23 MAR 12)

Rev. William D. Oldland: "Unless a Grain of Wheat Falls into the Earth and Dies" (6 APR 03)

The Lectionary: A grain of wheat must die to produce fruit (22 MAR12)

Dr. Scott Hahn: The “Hour” Come (March 25th 2012 - Fifth Sunday of Lent)

The Word Encountered: Repentance and Eucharist (Fifth Sunday of Lent B)

Dominican Daily: Word to Life: Sirius XM: 5th Sunday of Lent