5th Sunday of Lent<\/p>\n
\u201cFather, save me from this hour?<\/span><\/p>\n But it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n By Sister Mary Owens<\/p>\n Director, Children of God Relief Institute – Nyumbani, Nairobi, Kenya<\/p>\n This 5th Sunday of Lent we touch into Jesus\u2019 experience as the time for his ultimate sacrifice for humankind draws near.\u00a0 Truly human, he feels dread at the suffering ahead of him: \u201cMy soul is troubled,\u201d and very naturally he pleads with his Father:\u00a0 \u201cFather, save me from this hour.\u201d\u00a0 But then, in his deeper self, he knows that it was for this ultimate sacrifice that he became incarnate and that, by his dying on the Cross, God the Father would be glorified:\u00a0 \u201cFather glorify your name\u201d.\u00a0 God the Father confirms this.\u00a0 \u201cI have glorified it and I will glorify it again.\u201d But it still means that his son must suffer.\u00a0 Surely this moment in Jesus\u2019 life is an inspiring model for each one of us as we face the various moments of suffering in our personal life: imminent loss of a loved one, an upcoming change in our work life which will bring disruption to family and social life, facing possible diagnosis of a medical condition which would mean restriction in our way of living. May Jesus\u2019 example of commitment to his Father\u2019s will at his moment of suffering be a source of strength to us when we face suffering in our life.\u00a0 At the same time, we pray, asking God nor to let this happen like Jesus \u201coffered up prayer and entreaty aloud and in silent tears to the one who had the power to save Him.\u201d ‘His prayer was heard\u2019 in that he gained strength to face the suffering ahead of him. May our prayer also be heard as we face God\u2019s will for us at our time of suffering.<\/p>\n For Jesus, His dying on the Cross was the cost of our redemption, of our sins being forgiven, \u201cI will forgive their iniquity and never call their sin to mind.\u201d As we reflect this Sunday on Jesus\u2019 supreme sacrifice, his accepting to endure his passion and dying on the Cross for us, for me, what is my response to Jesus\u2019 sacrifice to save me from my sin?\u00a0 Am I allowing myself this Lent to bring to mind my personal sin and sinfulness, and ask God to forgive me? Are my attitudes\u00a0 Christ-like or need healing: Do I stigmatize those who are different from me, like persons living with HIV, of a different ethnic origin, of a different political alignment, or a different sexual orientation? Do I forgive others, not holding on to hurt and anger?\u00a0 Do others experience me, through my living and attitudes, that I am truly following Jesus?\u00a0 When I come in contact with Jesus in prayer, am I allowing God to imprint his law in my heart, to be my God? \u201cDeep within them, I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts.\u00a0 Then I will be their God and they shall be my people.\u201d May we, during this Lent, allow God to transform our living that we may be another Christ in our world to-day.<\/p>\n