DYING TO SELF IS LENT
All our Lenten observances point to one single and simple fact that is the willingness of dying to self. This is all Lenten season is all about taking an introspective journey to fix or mend our brokenness by sins, failures and weaknesses. Hence, Lent revolves around the practices of prayer, fasting, almsgiving and penance. This entails dying to self to ascertain spiritual growth and Christian maturity.
This Christian growth and maturity lead to a true spirituality which is a concrete religious encounter with God. A transformative experience that moves us far away from external religiosities, practices, rules, regulations or rituals. A godliness search or journey begins with religious tenets but must move on beyond or from external consciousness of things, persons, or places to a divine consciousness that transcends linear-spatial realities.
OUR THEME
With the Most Holy Week of Christian faith around the corner, the readings of this Sunday point to the passion, death, and resurrection. A mystery meant to strengthen our resolution to be willing to die like Christ and experience also the transformational resurrection from the death of sins and self.
The readings make us see the climax of Jesus’ public ministry as leading to suffering and death. One that will give glory to God. As such, they invite to be willing to undergo the same measure that leads to an abundance of life in Christ Jesus.
These practices of Lenten observances through intensification of prayer, voluntary penance of fasting, and almsgiving are God´s law of love written eternally in our hearts. The prophetic call to interior renewal.
The conclusion is that Lent and the Lenten observances are a form of dying to self to come to the glorious resurrection of Easter. This is the mystery we celebrate, the mystery of Christ’s passion and death that leads to his resurrection.
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 31:31-34
The prophet Jeremiah through his prophecy makes a drastic shift from the physical covenant, written laws on scroll to a transformational spirit of laws and the covenant in our hearts and minds. Therefore, the Lenten call for repentance (metanoia: a radical change of mind and heart), of reconciliation and renewal are all inner or interior transformation.
For the prophet, a new covenant or law of God will be written on the human heart. Thanks to Jesus´ passion, death, and resurrection by which the new and eternal covenant is established in us and with us spiritually.
The psalmist in Psalm 51 invites us to a renewal of our lives after acknowledging our sins with a petition for God´s grace. Hence, we declare: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me out from your presence, and do not take from me your Holy Spirit.
SECOND READING: HEBREWS 5:7-10
The author of the Book of Hebrews situated Christ´s passion and death, and eventually his resurrection in the context of the sacrifice made by the High Priest for the forgiveness of sins and salvation of all. This implies that Jesus Christ is the eternal human High Priest of God like Melchizedek.
To count worthily and redeeming the sacrifice of the cross to the death of Christ. That is his sufferings and death must not be frictional arts but a real bloodily sacrifice of will and voluntary to suffer pain, agony and dying to self.
Rightly, the author emphasizes how this sacrifice was made through the excruciating pain of will, emotions, and body. Thus, “Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
That is to say that Jesus’ prayers and entreaties, his tears and his cry, were no just mere shedding of emotional tears. The word he uses for cry “krauge”, in Greek is very significant. It is a cry which a man does not choose to utter but is wrung from him in the stress of some tremendous tension or searing pain.
Importantly, the salvation which Jesus brought is eternal. It is something that keeps a man safe both in time and in eternity. With Christ, a man is safe forever. There are no circumstances that can pluck him from Christ’s hand. This is because his obedience and submission to God are one of a kind. Equally, his passion and death are not of an abstract and metaphysical experience but the experience of suffering through which Jesus passed perfectly fitted him to become the Saviour of all men and women.
THE GOSPEL: JOHN 12:20-30
The context of the passage of this 5th Sunday gospel text by the Evangelist John is in the Passover feast of the Jews. A pilgrimage celebration that attracts Jews as well as non-Jews who love and seek to know the God of Israel to Jerusalem.
Hence, some Greeks adherents of Judaism came along to the feast and they seek to have an audience with Jesus Christ. Probably, they did not only heard about him, but they have also seen and experienced him. And like many Jews in the time of the Passover have come to believe in him.
According to biblical experts, it was not by coincidence the Greeks first went to Philip and Andrew to get to Jesus. There are historical pieces of evidence:
1. Galilee the country home of Jesus’ disciples and apostles was heavily influenced by the Hellenistic culture of 323 BC to 30 BC before the Roman domination of the region.
2. The phrase “Galilee of the Gentiles”, is a clear indication of external influences. Historically, while Galilee is a Jewish territory of the northern part of Israel and has a large Jewish population. It is considered to have a large presence of gentiles’ population as well.
3. The rift of conflict between the Judeans of southern Israel who were considered to be the pure and authentic Jews and Galileans of the north who were seen as “impure or adulterated” Jews is another evident.
4. It is also noted that Philip; “from the Greek name “Philippos” (from “philein” ‘to love’ + “hippos” ‘horse’) or Andrew from ancient Greek “Andreas” or “Andros”, literally means “man” (as opposed to “woman”). Thus meaning “manly” and, as consequence, “brave”, “strong”, “courageous”, and “warrior”. These were Greek names bore by Jews who are Jesus’ disciple (Philip) and an apostle (Andrew the brother of Simon Peter).
5. Biblical scholars believe the Greeks approach them with a sense of ease and confidence because of the Greek names. Hoping they would lead them to Christ.
6. When their interest was made known to Jesus. This is fulfilled a prophecy or belief that Israel´s salvation is near. That is, for the Jews when the Greeks or Gentiles seek the Messiah or God of Israel the hour has come for Israel´s redemption.
Jesus’ declaration: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” Simply points to his passion, death, and the salvation or redemption of the world that includes all people, race, nation, culture, and sex.
THE IMAGERY OF DEATH OR DYING TO SELF
Therefore, he affirms solidly to teaching his apostles and disciples through imageries concept of dying to self for a cause to save many. Such as: “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. Again, “those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
For Jesus, the essence of life lies in the sacrifice of life for greater or the greatest cause. That is, dying to self for plentiful or abundance of life or salvation to all. This is Jesus’ realization as well as the available option to save the world.
The mystery of dying to self is the mystery of growing into transformational or superabundance. This is not only a spiritual concept to Christian growth, development, and maturity. It is an applicable principle to life in general. There will be never successes, increases, or multiplications to life without the crucible of suffering, pain and dying.
CHRIST PASSION AND DEATH: A FUNDAMENTAL DECISION
In other words, the sacrifice of suffering, dying and rising was a fundamental decision for Jesus. One, he willingly, gladly, and graciously accepted for our salvation.
And this becomes a yardstick too for all who will or wish to follow him to eternal life. This is why he declared further, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.” Assuring us that suffering, pain, sacrifice or death to self leads to abundant life.
However, no one is ever comfortable with suffering and pains or even death. Humanly, Jesus was scared though he knew that was the only available option. “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say” ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.”
At the same time, Jesus knew how hard his passion and death were hard for his disciples and apostles to understand. Once again, he empathically demonstrated to them that, it was God´s will that will lead to glorification, resurrection, and salvation of all.
THE THEOPHANIC APPROVAL OF THE FATHER´S VOICE
Evidentially, this led to the third theophanic approval of God over Christ in the scripture. First was at his baptism: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22), the second time was at the transfiguration: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Mt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 9:35). While the third time was in John´s gospel: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” (Jn 12:28).
For Jesus, this voice which many were confused over, came for the sake of his followers. A demonstration of God´s approval for Christ’s sacrifice through his passion, death, and resurrection. That will lead to his glorification, exaltation, and victory for the Devil, evil, sins, and death. The accuser and obstacles to Christian’s growth and maturity spiritually.
CHRIST´S SUFFERING, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION: THE MOTIVATION OF LENT
In a nutshell, today’s readings focus on the approaching death of Jesus which Paul considers a priestly sacrifice and John considers the moment of Jesus’ “exaltation” and “glorification.” The readings offer us the challenge of dying to self.
Just as Jesus became the “Promised Messiah of Glory” and the “Conquering Son of Man” by offering his life for others. We, too, if we would come to Heaven, must die to self by loving obedience, spending our lives in self-giving, and sacrificial service.
This is what the Lenten season of grace, mercy, and redemption offers us to attain glorification or victory of the Easter resurrection. Through dying to self, to our ego, desires, inclinations, and the world. Something, we must do through Lenten observances of prayer, fasting, almsgiving and penance.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the life and the resurrection of the dead and you offer us the most lasting solution to the problem of sin and evil dominance in the world: a dying to self. Help us to realize always and everywhere that it is in human dying of ego, pride, power, things, and persons that we grow into abundance spiritually in all ramifications. Amen.
