Homily: Fifth Tuesday of Lent

Fifth Tuesday of Lent (Jn 8:21-30) “Can I be Lifted?”

Jesus speaks about being “lifted up” several times in the latter part of the Gospel of John. This is obviously an allusion to something, but to what? We might have several guesses.

The first guess would be that Jesus is talking about being lifted-up on the cross. He is speaking of his impending death. When Jesus is executed, his crucifixion is a public event. He dies on the hill at calvary as numerous people look on. His humiliation is there for all to see.

Another thing that the Gospel writer may be alluding to is Jesus’ resurrection. Our lord was lifted out of the tomb, and he lived in a new and different way. He was left for dead, but he rose again.

The third meaning behind the phrase “lifted-up” could be interpreted as Jesus speaking of his Ascension into Heaven. 40 days after his resurrection Jesus rose into heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Father for all eternity.

The leaders of the Jewish people and the disciples of Jesus failed to grasp what Jesus was talking about as they listened to him days before his passion. They were shocked by his reference to himself as the great “I am.” This was a reference to the name God used when speaking to Moses. God said, “I am who am” when the Lord spoke to Moses from the burning bush in the Book of Exodus. To refer to oneself as Yahweh was blasphemy.

Jesus was issuing a warning. You attack me for claiming to be God’s Son, but one day soon you will see that that is who I am. Jesus proved who he was during the monumental events of Holy Week.

Jesus is not the only one who is lifted-up. We remember as Easter approaches that he was lifted so that we all could be lifted-up. Some day we will experience what Jesus experienced. Just like the Jews were cured of snake bite when the bronze serpent is lifted up, we will be cured of the sickness that is our sin.

Reflection Questions:

1.    Have I ever thought of what Jesus meant by being lifted-up? How does Jesus’ passion and resurrection lift me up?

2.   What sin am I still struggling with as Easter approaches? Can I make one final prayer for strength?

Dear Parishioners,

           This Wednesday there will be a Reconciliation Service at Christ the King at 6:30. After the Stations of the cross here at Sacred Heart, it might be worth your while to travel to Christ the King for confession. There will be five confessors available there.

          Sometimes people ask me if they must mention every sin in Confession. That is an impossibility. I know that as I celebrate Reconciliation I try to mention the things that I feel are most important. There used to be a line that we said at the end of our confession of sins which was, “For these sins and all the sins which I don’t remember (or all the sins of my past life). We make a sincere confession and God takes care of the rest.

          May our Lady pray for all those suffering throughout the world today.

          Fr. Mark