5th Week of Lent 2018 - Friday - Which side are you on?

The Jordan River runs through our Gospel today as a line of demarcation, separating belief from unbelief. On one side of the Jordan, the people accused Jesus of blaspheming and "reached for rocks to stone Him".

On the other side of the Jordan, "many people came to" Jesus and believed in Him.

What side are you on? At first, we all say we are on the side believing in Jesus. And to be on the opposite side is baffling.

To see his miracles, to witness his goodness, to hear his teachings and his parables: how could you not believe? How could you willingly choose to deny him?

And yet, the season of Lent isn’t simply to provide us the opportunity to pat ourselves on the back for being on the right side of the Jordan, but to help us acknowledge, how often I’ve been on the wrong side of the river. Haven’t I allowed opposition to Jesus to reside in my own heart? Haven’t I resisted the call to fast, the call to pray, the call to acts of mercy?

Most of the people on the right side of the river, will fail to follow Jesus all the way to the cross, including, one of his most trusted apostles, St. Peter.

The same folks who rejoice at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday will call for his crucifixion on Good Friday.

In these final days of Lent, we do well to ask the Holy Spirit to help us identify those parts of us that run away from the cross, that denounce the truth, and that shirk away from self-sacrifice. May the Holy Spirit help us repent of such selfish and slothful attitudes, and experience true conversion, true transformation. May the Holy Spirit help us to embrace the cross fully with Christ, and allowing Him to lead us in fulfilling our own vocations for the spread of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.