5th Sunday in Lent, Year B
In our reading, God tells of a new covenant with his people. His previous covenant with the people he brought out of Egypt was broken. (He offered many blessings if they would only follow him and make him their God. Instead, they built false gods which they worshipped.)
In our gospel, Jesus was telling Philip and Andrew about how he was going to die. A grain of wheat is only one grain of wheat until it is buried in the ground where it can grow into a plant and later many grains of wheat. He compared us to a grain of wheat. If we are willing to live our lives in service to God, we will live forever in heaven.
Special Saint/Feast Day: St Cuthbert – March 20th
Cuthbert was a poor shepherd boy who loved to play games with his friends.
At 15 years old, Cuthbert had an unforgettable experience. He saw a totally black sky and suddenly a bright beam of light containing angels carrying a ball of fire moved across the sky. He later found out that Bishop St. Aiden died that same night.
After this vision, Cuthbert decided that he would enter a monastery and later became a priest.
Fr. Cuthbert went from village to village and from house to house either riding a horse or walking. He brought the Good News of Jesus. He did good everywhere and he brought many people to God. He was a cheerful, kind, and prayerful monk.
Fr. Cuthbert was later ordained a bishop. He still visited people no matter how difficult it was to travel.
He died peacefully in 687 at 51 years old.
St. Cuthbert went out of his way to be kind and loving with his people. We can ask him to help us to be like him so that no one will find it hard to get along with us.