· V Lent (B), April 2, 2006
· Theme: I Will Write My Law on Their Hearts
· Tema: Grabaré Mi Ley en Sus Corazones

· Introduction:
· We are completing our Lenten retreat in preparation for Easter.
· Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week - the most sacred time of the Liturgical Year.
· In these last two weeks of Lent, the readings draw our eyes to the Crucified One, with a focus on what God has done for us.

· In the first reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah (chapter 31)
· Jeremiah is prophesying to the Jews who are in Exile in Babylon.
· The prophet looks forward to the New Covenant that God will make with his people.
· This time God will write his law not on the tablets of stone like those Moses received on Mount Sinai, but rather on the hearts of his people.

· In the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews
· The author refers to the suffering of Jesus as the source of eternal life.
· It is important to realize that Jesus did not suffer to appease an angry God;
· Rather, God so loves his people that Jesus fully identifies with their suffering.
· God’s Covenant is written on their hearts.

· In John’s Gospel today, there are two powerful images:
· First image is that of Jesus’ death and resurrection:
· Jesus says, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”
· In John’s Gospel, “lifted up” has a double meaning:
· Lifted up on the Cross - indicating the kind of death the Jesus would endure,
· Lifted up in Glory - which is John’s image of Jesus on the Cross
· (Maybe some have seen images of the Resurrected Jesus on the Cross)
· It is this paradox of Lifting up on the Cross and Lifting up in Glory that we celebrate when ever we refer to the “Sacrifice of the Mass.”
· Second image is also of death and resurrection:
· Jesus says, “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.
· The image that comes to mind is the grain of wheat that is planted, dies, and springs forth to produce the bread that we share at our Eucharistic Table at every Mass.

· As we reflect on these readings and these images, we have to ask ourselves, “What must die in our lives so that God’s life may flourish in us?”
· What angers and resentments still plague us?
· What deceit still rules our lives?
· In what situations are our hearts made of stone?

· I believe that these questions apply not only on a personal level, but also on a National and International level as well.
· Two examples occurred to me this week:
· Comprehensive Immigration Reform
· The situation around immigration reform is heating up in the Senate and has caused major divisions in the politics of the U.S.
· Some of the comments about immigrants have been despicable.
· Some of the counter attacks have not helped ease the tension.
· When will we let die the grain of xenophobia and racism?
· It is only then that we can form policy that will secure the borders of the country and also protect the human rights of all God’s people.

· Dealing with Iran
· The U. S. and members of the European Union have made increasingly confrontational statements about Iran.
· The tensions that are being created seem similar to the ones that led up to the Iraq war.
· Mohamed ElBaradei, the U. N. Atomic Energy Chief said, in so many words, it is time for all parties to back down and realize that the only lasting solution to the nuclear issues is a negotiated solution.
· Relating this situation to today’s Gospel, we can say:
· Unless the grain of our violent ways of dealing with each other dies, there can be no new wheat of accord and mutual respect in our world.

· Déjenme resumir mis reflexiones sobre las Escrituras de hoy
· Vamos acabando con nuestro retiro Cuaresmal.
· El domingo que viene es el Domingo de Ramos que inicia la Semana Santa.
· En estos días, el enfoque de las lecturas es en la Cruz, lo que Dios ha hecho por nosotros.

· Las lecturas nos ponen en ambiente:
· El profeta Jeremías dice que Dios va a grabar su ley en los corazones de su pueblo.
· En la carta a los Hebreos, escuchamos que el Señor Jesús se identifica con los sufrimientos de su pueblo.
· En el evangelio hay dos imágenes potentes:
· Cristo levantado en la Cruz que resulta en su Gloria
· El grano de trigo que tiene que morir para poder reavivar y producir fruto.

· En nuestras vidas personales, ¿Qué se necesita morir para que crezca la nueva vida de Dios en nosotros?
· ¿El rencor que guardamos?
· ¿La decepción que practicamos?
· ¿En cuales situaciones tenemos el corazón de piedra?

· Tanto en la vida personal como en la vida nacional e internacional tenemos que hacer las mismas preguntas?
· ¿Qué tal nuestra actitud hacia los inmigrantes o los de otras razas?
· ¿Buscamos el bienestar y justicia para todos?
· ¿Qué tal nuestra actitud a los de Iraq y Iran?
· ¿Estamos dispuestos como nación negociar la paz con buena voluntad y compasión?

· As we continue with our liturgy today:
· Let us pray that God’s Spirit will guide us as we strive to live out the New Covenant that God has written on our hearts as believers
· Let us pray that we can make this covenant real in our daily lives.
· As we move towards Holy Week, let us pray in thanksgiving for the marvels that God has done for us.

· Amen

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