March 17, 2018

5th Sunday of Lent - B (March 18. 2018)


Sir, We Would Like to See Jesus

“Some Greeks … came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we would like to see Jesus’.”

This identification of Philip is significant.  And like Philip, Andrew was also from Galilee and had a Greek name.  

By the standards of the Jews who were from Judea, Philip and Andrew would be considered a kind of third class Jews.  Judean Jews looked down upon Galilean Jews.  Worse, their Greek names suggest that their parents or ancestors must have either lived for a time outside of Palestine, or had adopted some gentile cultural practices. 

Yet, what certain people might have considered inferior helped Philip and Andrew bring outsiders to Jesus.  Those Greeks must have felt comfortable with Philip and Andrew.  The two had names that they could relate to.  Besides, Philip and Andrew probably spoke their language. 

Isn’t it an example of the last shall be first?

Or is it a case of “the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies and produces much fruits”?

Lent offers me a chance to have a clearer understanding of my true self, to die to what is superficial, and allow Jesus to use me, with all I am, as his instrument to draw others to him. 

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

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