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Fifth Sunday in Lent • Year B
March 17, 2024
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Historical Collect
Almighty God, look favorably upon your family. Graciously rule our bodies lest we are enticed to love the world, and guard our spirits lest we fail to recognize your love. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)
Thematic Collect
Almighty and merciful God, your Son’s glory was revealed through humility and suffering. Keep us from the temptation to elevate ourselves and instead, through the power of your Spirit, help us to humbly share ourselves with others, for it is only in dying to our selfishness and pride that we will find life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Common Thread
When God works faith within us, we begin to fear, love, and trust him. He puts his law within us, writing his word on our hearts. So, we are inspired to meditate on this word, to store it up in our hearts so that we will not sin against God. But when we do sin, he forgives. He is just to do so because Jesus, being God in human flesh, became the true priest of the truest sacrifice. Our Great High Priest (Heb 4:14-16) was appointed by God to offer himself for the sin of the world. He came to serve and to give his life as payment for sins that he did not commit. Having stored up in our hearts such a wondrous revelation, we too are now compelled to become servants to our neighbors.
First Reading • Jeremiah 31:31-34
The great promise of the Scriptures is that a new covenant will be made with God's people. It will not be like the old commitments because the new covenant will not be able to be broken by people. This new pledge will be sealed with God's own blood (1 Cor 11:25). Therefore, the covenant will depend upon God alone. People will not nullify the new testament. The result will be (and has become) that God's law will be written upon their hearts so that their spirits will keep turning and moving toward God. They will know God personally and intimately because he will forgive their faults and forget their sins forever.
Psalm • Psalm 119:9-16
This is the greatest commandment: to seek the Lord and love him with one's entire heart and soul and mind (Deut 6:5; Matt 22:36-37). The psalmist tries to do so but seems aware that he could fail at his task. He implores, “Let me not wander from your commandments!” Who can love the Lord so completely? We all turn to the side from time to time (or more likely, very often) to seek our own interests. What else can we do but turn again to the Lord, fixing our attentions upon him and his ways? May we delight in his law and never forget his word.
Second Reading • Hebrews 5:1-10
Even as the priests of old were chosen by God, Jesus, his highest priest, was also appointed. Jesus was not a priest like Aaron, nor was he of Aaron's lineage. Instead, he was of the order of Melchizedek, that priest and king of ancient Salem, who has no stated bloodline. His order is without end. Jesus is this kind of high priest. Becoming like us — though perfectly holy — he is able to offer up an acceptable sacrifice for all of us (Heb 2:17).
Gospel • Mark 10:32-34, 35-45
The way of the Lord is not about fame or power; it is about humble obedience and service. This includes suffering, if only to suffer the guilt of our sin. Jesus patiently explains to his disciples that this is why he had come to earth and was willing to suffer and die as an obedient servant of his Father (Luke 19:10). His suffering death would mean the salvation of the world. Our response should then be faithful service since our Lord himself came to serve, most notably by giving his own life for us all.
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
