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March 15, 2018
Father William Nicholas
The Gospel according to John is divided into two main parts – The Book of Signs and The Book of Glory. Between these two parts, John 12:20-30 marks the virtual halfway point in the Gospel of John. As the Book of Signs wraps up and the Gospel flows into the Book of Glory, Jesus sets His sights on preparing for his glorification. In what appears to be a bold proclamation indicating a pivotal moment he declares repeatedly the importance of his “hour.” After 11 chapters of revealing himself to his disciples through signs, Jesus now prepares for his final glorification as the Son of God.
Jesus’ glorification will involve nothing less than his death: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies …” Jesus, however, does not preach only his Death. He begins to preach on what it truly means to be his follower: “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…”
Up until now in the Gospel of John the followers of Jesus were drawn because of the signs he was performing. Now Jesus declares when he will give the one great example of his glory and what it means to be his disciple. From this point on, all of his actions and words are directed toward his death and resurrection, and the call of his disciples to follow in his footsteps. He will wash his disciples’ feet, showing them that they must be dedicated to a life of self-effacing servitude (13:1-17). He will prepare them for his departure, assuring them of his purpose in leaving them (14:3-28). He will define true love as being true to his word (14:23) and laying down one’s life for one’s friends, (15:13-14) and he will command his followers to love as he has loved them (15:17). Finally, he will indicate “the sort of death by which Peter [is] to glorify God” (21:19) as he commissions Peter to “feed [his] sheep”.
On the Fifth Sunday of Lent we enter into the final phase of our Lenten journey, indicated by the declaration we hear in the Gospel, that “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”, and we prepare to celebrate the unfolding of that glorification. Just as Lent has been for us a period of preparation for Easter, let the coming Fifth Week of Lent be a time of preparation for Holy Week when the church enters into its highest holy days. Let us resolve to truly celebrate Jesus coming to his hour and his glorification; to join our parishes in celebrating the triduum liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, even though such liturgies may occur at awkward hours, be of particular lengths, and not be obligatory (as if Catholics need imposed obligations before we engage in holy celebrations). Let us resolve to spend those three days, and the better part of Holy Week in prayer as our Lenten sacrifices and observances come to their finale.
Jesus declares, “The hour has come.” In the final days of Lent let us enter into that hour, as we hear in our Scriptures and celebrate in our worship. Let us not see Lent as just another season, or Holy Week as just another week, or Easter as just another Sunday. Let us join Christ as he enters into that “hour” and celebrate the events of Easter as true people of faith who rejoice in our salvation in Christ. Let us prepare to gather together as one people to raise our prayers to God in our highest holy days, joining Christ in our Scripture in declaring: The time has come! “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.”
Father Nicholas is a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco currently serving at St. Bruno Parish, Whittier; www.frbillnicholas.com.