The fruit of life from the seed of death
Prayer
Contemporary Lectionary Prayers
Cycle B
Gospel Note:
This passage, in which John signals the "beginning of the end"
in Christ's path toward crucifixion, encapsulates the running
paradox in the fourth Gospel, namely, that the humiliating death
of Jesus on the cross is actually an exaltation or glorification,
and that for the followers of Jesus, preservation of (earthly)
life would entail loss of (eternal) life, which comes only
through self-sacrifice and death. The imagery here of new fruit
that comes from dead seed that falls to the ground already
suggests burial and resurrection.
Liturgical Color:
Purple
Suggested Hymns:
Glory Be To Jesus
Christ The Life Of All The Living
To You, Omniscient Lord Of All
Renew Me, O Eternal Light
A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth
Now The Green Blade Rises
Lent 5
Every once in a while,
we are challenged to back up our words of faith
with acts of love or service.
In these moments we are tempted to say things to
ourselves like:
Don't push it!
Take it easy!
It won't make any difference anyway!
Why bother?
These are familiar phrases, Lord.
We usually say things like this when we want to
back away from something we do not want to face.
In moments like this, help us to reflect upon what
Jesus faced on our behalf.
He faced ridicule, abuse and rejection.
He took upon himself all the sins of the world
and paid our debt with his own life.
We ask you, Lord, to grant us the wisdom,
the courage, and the strength to face our
challenges and not to walk away from them.
In this way we will continue to glorify your name.
Amen.
This passage, in which John signals the "beginning of the end"
in Christ's path toward crucifixion, encapsulates the running
paradox in the fourth Gospel, namely, that the humiliating death
of Jesus on the cross is actually an exaltation or glorification,
and that for the followers of Jesus, preservation of (earthly)
life would entail loss of (eternal) life, which comes only
through self-sacrifice and death. The imagery here of new fruit
that comes from dead seed that falls to the ground already
suggests burial and resurrection.
Liturgical Color:
Purple
Suggested Hymns:
Glory Be To Jesus
Christ The Life Of All The Living
To You, Omniscient Lord Of All
Renew Me, O Eternal Light
A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth
Now The Green Blade Rises
Lent 5
Every once in a while,
we are challenged to back up our words of faith
with acts of love or service.
In these moments we are tempted to say things to
ourselves like:
Don't push it!
Take it easy!
It won't make any difference anyway!
Why bother?
These are familiar phrases, Lord.
We usually say things like this when we want to
back away from something we do not want to face.
In moments like this, help us to reflect upon what
Jesus faced on our behalf.
He faced ridicule, abuse and rejection.
He took upon himself all the sins of the world
and paid our debt with his own life.
We ask you, Lord, to grant us the wisdom,
the courage, and the strength to face our
challenges and not to walk away from them.
In this way we will continue to glorify your name.
Amen.
