by Sister Stephanie Heskamp, ASC
Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33
St. Paul says that “now we see as through a veil, indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then, face to face.” There is much to see, to understand, to ponder! This Sunday, we find many contrasting elements in the life of Jesus, as He approaches His final agony and death. The “Covenant” referred to in Jeremiah, is still a living reality in our relationship with God, the God who reveals Himself in the beauty of all created things and living beings! The Covenant is gift!
How amazing that this God/man, Trinity, who share their life with humans and instill in us the capacity to desire union with the Holy One! In re-living the life of the historic Christ, we enter into and prepare to experience again the death and Resurrection of Jesus. How heart-rending Jesus’ cry to the Father to spare him from this hour! As always, Jesus gives total surrender to the Father’s will! Now, after centuries of human greed, hunger, hate, racism, materialism, and domination, all creation cries out with Jesus in this terrible suffering! The hour is coming when Jesus will be glorified, but first the grain of wheat must die.
In God there is no time; all is Present. In the evil we do, we are part of Christ’s Crucifixion. It is all NOW, THERE IS NO PAST IN GOD! Still there is Divine Mercy and forgiveness, and we have the promise, ”When I am lifted up, I will draw all things to myself!”