Toward the glory of Easter: “My Hour has not yet come”
5th Sunday of Lent. Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Ps 51; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33
In the Gospel of John, Jesus frequently refers to the hour. At least 12 times, he references “the coming hour” or what he calls himself: “My Time”. Jesus' hour is the time of his cross and resurrection when he fully reveals the Father’s love and accomplishes his saving work that is his hour of glorification.
What hour are you in? What effort do you make to value this hour of God in your life?
Let’s explore today’s reading.
Everything in life has a time. It might be a relationship, mission or vocation, a covenant that is inscribed in our heart as Jeremiah says in the first reading (Jeremiah 31: 31-34). In everything then of life, there is a season.
The way to live a fulfilled life, the way to live a happy life, is by discerning, by recognizing, by respecting and by living the moment as it comes. Live every moment, every season as it comes.
Although he was God, Jesus took his time to discern, to recognize and to respect each season, each hour as it came. Jesus did not live his life twisting the hand of the clock. He did not live his life twisting the arm of God. No.
Jesus lived his life humbly submitting himself to the will of God and that led him to his glorification.
What hour are you at the moment? What is your purpose in this life?
When is that hour for that purpose to be achieved in this life?
What effort are you making to recognize the true hour for the purpose of God for you to be achieved? Are they rushing the hour? Are you
rushing things in your life?
I would like to remind you that God has customized everyone’s calendar. Remember there are different time zones for different places on this earth. Of course the sun rises and sets at different places based on the time zone. Do you feel depressed, don’t see yourself as a failure because your hour has not yet come.
Don’t live your life based on the time zone of others. Don’t live your life based on someone else's calendar.
That is why today’s psalm (Ps. 51) invites us to have a pure heart.
Pray that you may recognize the hour of God in your own calendar and live according
to that divinely assigned calendar.
His hour is always the best in our specific time zone. This sort of obedience is in communion with Christ who has become for us the source of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:7-9).
May we recognize by the help of the Holy Spirit, the purpose for which God has created us.
This is the process of dying on oneself. Lord help us to recognize what each hour of our lives is meant for and to make the best of each hour so as to bring about the
fulfilment of God’s glory in our world through Christ our Lord.
Happy 5th Sunday of Lent!
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC