Fifth Sunday of Lent
Week five: Let us not grow tired of sowing goodness in view of a future harvest.
With these words, the Apostle evokes the image of sowing and reaping, so dear to Jesus (cf. Mt 13). Saint Paul speaks to us of a kairós: an opportune time for sowing goodness in view of a future harvest. What is this “opportune time” for us? Lent is certainly such an opportune time, but so is our entire existence, of which Lent is in some way an image. All too often in our lives, greed, pride and the desire to possess, accumulate and consume have the upper hand, as we see from the story of the foolish man in the Gospel parable, who thought his life was safe and secure because of the abundant grain and goods he had stored in his barns (cf. Lk 12:16-21). Lent invites us to conversion, to a change in mindset, so that life’s truth and beauty may be found not so much in possessing as in giving, not so much in accumulating as in sowing and sharing goodness.
“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.”
Read the complete Message from Pope Francis for Lent 2022
Readings
Is 43:16-21 See, I am doing something new!
Ps 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6. Response – The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Phil 3:8-14 … that I may gain Christ and be found in him…
Jn 8: 1-11 … Neither do I condemn you …
Prayer of the Faithful (starter):
Let us not grow tired of doing good. Guide us to discover life’s truth and beauty by sowing goodness in the time we have been given. Abide in our hearts as we try to do well what we have been called to do, to be a sign of hope in the world.
Invocation: E te Ariki …
Response: Whakarongo mai rā ki a mātou
When we sow for the benefit of others, we share in God’s own benevolent love. (FT 196)
Resources
The Way of the Cross – (12 mins plus your own reflective prayer time)
From the Archdiocese of Brisbane. HERE
Pray the Stations of the Cross (15 mins)
From the Archdiocese of Cincinnati HERE
Guide to the Lent Readings by Fr Adrian Graffy HERE
Homily Studio podcast for a 30-minute conversation about the scriptures for next Sunday. HERE
Called to be Peacemakers - Lent 2022
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. Go their website HERE
