Sunday Gospel Refection
Fifth Sunday of Lent
John 12:20-33

A Sprig of New Life
by: Carlo S. Dureza

There are two things that one would notice in a foliage of trees. First are dry leaves dropping from the top in a swirling pattern following the whirring rhythm of the breeze. Second are soft, silky smooth, miniature leaves that have freshly sprouted from brittle twigs entangled in the trees’ brute branches.

Each of these images depict the end points of life’s cycle: birth and death. Fresh leaves spring forth after crisp, dry leaves crumble into fine dust that return to the soil to birth new trees that would grow into their majestic glory.

This imagery is illumined in our gospel today. Jesus insinuates his coming death and His passing from the world. He will die but live again. He would be a falling leaf but would sprout into a new one. As he forebodes, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Let us fix our eyes and emplace our hearts on Jesus’ resurrection. May we not despair or be troubled upon the hour of His death but look unto a new life with Him ahead. He may fade for a while but will return joyfully to us.

A single death raises many lives in Christ. He may descend into the deepest bowels of the earth in death, but will emerge as a new creation, fresh in the Kingdom, together with all of us in a sprig of new life!

We must then honor God with good works and serve Him that He may honor us, too, in our lives. We are dry leaves that fall and fade but spring back anew to live with Him forever!

Happy Sunday! God bless!

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Photo by Gelgas Airlangga from Pexels

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