First Reading (Jer 31,31-34)
Reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah:
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah; not like the covenant which I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt, and which they violated, but I exerted force upon them, declares the Lord.
“This will be the covenant that I will conclude with the house of Israel after these days,” says the Lord: “I will print my law in their inward parts, and I will write it on their hearts; I will be their God and they will be my people. It will no longer be necessary to teach your neighbor or your brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord!’ Everyone will recognize me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord, for I will forgive their wickedness, and I will remember their sin no more.”
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Second Reading (Hb 5,7-9)
Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews:
Christ, in the days of his earthly life, addressed prayers and supplications, with strong cries and tears, to the one who was capable of saving him from death. And he was answered because of his surrender to God.
Even though he was a Son, he learned what obedience to God means through what he suffered. But, at the end of his life, he became the cause of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Announcement of the Gospel (John 12,20-33)
— PROCLAMATION of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, there were some Greeks among those who had gone up to Jerusalem to worship during the festival. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”
Philip agreed with Andrew, and the two went to talk to Jesus. Jesus answered them: “The hour has come when the Son of Man will be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, then it produces much fruit. Whoever clings to his life loses it; but whoever takes little account of his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone wants to follow me, follow me, and where I am my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, my Father will honor him. Now I feel distressed. And what will I say? ‘Father, deliver me from this hour?’ But it was precisely for this hour that I came. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified him and I will glorify him again!”
The crowd, who were there and heard it, said it had been thunder. Others claimed: “It was an angel who spoke to him.”
Jesus answered and said, “The voice you heard was not because of me, but because of you. It is now the judgment of this world. Now the leader of this world will be expelled, and I, when I am elevated from the earth, will draw everyone to myself.” Jesus spoke like this to indicate what death he would die.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I would like to begin our reflection with a simple but profound question: have you ever felt lost on this journey of life? Have you ever found yourself faced with challenges and uncertainties, not knowing which path to take? I’m sure we can all relate to this experience. After all, we are human beings, subject to doubts, fears and weaknesses.
Yet even in the midst of our difficulties, we have a promise of hope. Our biblical passages today lead us along a path of renewal and redemption, revealing God’s loving plan for humanity. Let’s delve into these Scriptures and discover together the spiritual truths they reveal to us.
In the first reading, we heard the words of the prophet Jeremiah, who announced the arrival of a new covenant between God and his people. He said: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” (Jer 31:31). This covenant would not be based on laws written on stone tablets, but rather in the heart of each person. It would be a covenant of love, forgiveness and mercy.
This new covenant, my brothers and sisters, has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Savior. He is the mediator of this covenant, the perfect link between God and humanity. In the second reading, from the letter to the Hebrews, we are reminded of Jesus’ supreme sacrifice on the cross. The author writes: “In the days of his mortal life, Jesus addressed prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who could save him from death” (Heb 5:7). Jesus experienced human suffering in all its fullness, but remained obedient to the Father’s plan.
My brothers and sisters, as we contemplate the passion and death of Jesus, we are confronted with the reality of sacrificial love. Just like a seed that needs to die to generate life, Jesus gave himself completely for us, so that we could have life in abundance. This is the central message of today’s Gospel, which tells us about Jesus’ meeting with some Greeks who wanted to see him. Jesus answered them: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24).
This powerful image of the grain of wheat teaches us about the meaning of renunciation and self-sacrifice. She invites us to reflect on the areas of our lives where we need to “die” to ourselves in order for God’s love to flourish in and through us. Perhaps we need to let go of old harmful habits, forgive someone who has hurt us deeply, or renounce our selfish desires. The path of discipleship requires courage and willingness to let God’s grace transform our hearts.
Dear brothers and sisters, today we are called to embrace this new covenant, to surrender our lives into the hands of the Lord and allow Him to write His law in our hearts. It is not an easy task, but God offers us his grace and his Holy Spirit to guide us on this journey. When we open ourselves to the action of the Spirit, we can experience the inner transformation that makes us authentic witnesses of God’s love.
On this journey of faith, it is important to remember that we are not alone. We are part of a community of faith, a spiritual family that supports and strengthens us. That is why we are gathered here today, in the presence of God and each other. When we share our joys and struggles, when we support each other on the journey of faith, we are living signs of the new covenant of love that God has established with us.
As we reflect on these biblical passages, I would like to offer some practical guidance for living the new covenant in our daily lives.
First of all, we must cultivate a constant prayer life. Just as Jesus addressed prayers and supplications to the Father, we must also seek the presence of God in our lives. Through prayer, we open our hearts to the transforming action of the Holy Spirit and connect with God’s will.
Secondly, we must seek true humility. Jesus’ example teaches us that true greatness lies in serving others. We must strip ourselves of pride and selfishness, putting the needs of others above our own. In doing so, we follow the example of Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve.
Third, we must be agents of reconciliation and forgiveness. The new covenant established by God is a covenant of love and mercy. We must forgive those who have offended us and seek reconciliation in our relationships. Just as God has forgiven us, we must also forgive others.
Fourthly, we must practice charity and justice. Jesus taught us to love those in need and to fight for justice in our world. We must be sensitive to the needs of others and act in solidarity with the most vulnerable. In doing so, we reflect God’s love in our actions.
Finally, we cannot forget the importance of the Eucharist in our spiritual life. Through participation in Holy Mass, we are nourished by the body and blood of Christ, strengthened to live the new covenant in our daily lives. The Eucharist unites us as a community and empowers us to live as authentic disciples of Jesus Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters, as I close this homily, I would like to invite you to reflect on how we can apply these principles in our daily lives. May the Word of God we hear today be not just words, but an inspiration for change and transformation. May we commit to living the new covenant of love and mercy in our lives and be living witnesses to the redeeming power of Christ.
May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen us on this journey, and may we experience the joy and peace that come from living in communion with God and with our brothers and sisters. May God’s grace sustain us and lead us ever closer to his love. May we be grains of wheat that die to themselves and bear much fruit to the glory of God.
So be it. Amen.
