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

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 51 A Prayer for Mercy and Forgiveness

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 22, 2015)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Fifth Sunday of Lent (March 22, 2015)

Msgr. Charles Pope: The Cross Always Wins – A Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent (21 MAR 15)

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

Word on Fire: United in the Blood of Jesus (Cycle B * Lent * Week 5)

Dr. Scott Hahn: The "Hour" Comes (March 22nd 2015 - Fifth Sunday of Lent)

CWR Blog: Unless we become grains of wheat... (21 MAR 15)

Spirituality of the Readings: Coming to Pieces (5th Sunday of Lent B)

The Word Embodied: Repentance and Eucharist (5th Sunday of Lent B)

Historical Cultural Context: Understanding Honor (5th Sunday of Lent B)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Cyril of Alexandria (5th Sunday of Lent B)

Word to Life Radio Broadcast: Fifth Sunday of Lent (21 MAR 15)