Lent 5 Yr C
Jesus or the Poor

Scripture: April 4, 2025—Isaiah 43:16-21 (image); Psalm 126 (image); Philippians 3:4b-14 4(image); and John 12:1-8 (image). 

Collect: Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Reflection: John 12:1–8 draws our attention to three people: Mary, Judas, and Jesus. It is easy enough to identify Mary as “the good disciple” and Judas as “the bad disciple” not only in this story but also in the larger story of Jesus’ life and death. We can (and do) make this judgment: Mary is accepted and affirmed, while Judas is rejected. But is this the judgment that the other person in the story would make? As one commentator puts it, “. . . if Jesus came to save the lost, surely there is no one in the gospel story who is more lost than the one who betrays Jesus. . . . If the Good Shepherd can and does go to any length to save a lost sheep, is Judas beyond the saving grasp of the Good Shepherd?”† This is not a question with an easy answer. As this story ushers you into Holy Week, consider how the cross, the grace of Christ, speaks to this story and to your own life story, which like most life stories may not be a simple “either/or” example of faithfulness, but a “both/and” mix of faithfulness and unfaithfulness.

For families: Study guide & activities (former guide); group activities; snacks; kid video.

For children: activity—see guide/activities above (another); bulletin games; craft.

For middlers: activity—see guide/activities above; (jumble; another); bulletin games; craft.

Coloring page: footwashing; John 

For youth: Let's look at the lesson from Philippians (Philippians 3:4b-14). Note that Paul says he had all the right credentials for a successful, respected life but . . . he gave all of that up so he could follow Jesus. He stopped looking for a powerful life or wealth and riches; he strove for eternal life with Christ Jesus. Consider your life. How are you challenged to strive for eternal life with Christ Jesus and turn away from the "credentials of a successful, respected life"? Comments welcome.

Each of the Lenten Sundays stresses one of the events in the Old Testament history of Salvation. For us, these events foreshadow the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection and our incorporation into him in Holy Baptism.

The two greatest events in Israel’s salvation history were the Exodus/Passover in the time of Moses and Israel’s return from exile in Babylon to the land of promise in the sixth century B.C. Today we hear from Isaiah a reflection upon that return which transforms it into the sign that still to come. God’s plan is an even greater act of salvation—something entirely new. It is that new action by God which we celebrate in this season and especially in Holy Week and Easter.

Today’s gospel reading is the story of a woman who expressed her devotion to Jesus by anointing his feet with costly perfume. While Judas complained about her extravagant action, Jesus saw it as a sign of his coming death and burial. The gospel writer discounts the complaint that the money could have been given to the poor. We are reminded that to make our Lord our greatest value is essential to our role as the people of God.

In the second reading, Paul testifies that his life is lived in Christ. This is not simply a metaphor. In baptism, we have been made part of Jesus’ dying and rising, which is renewed in the Eucharist.

We are nearing Holy Week, when we enter into an intense period of rediscovering our identity as people who are in Christ and in whom God has performed the ultimate act of salvation. The restoration of all people to their true homeland with God will end the exile from God created by our disobedience.