Old things pass away so that new things can come

Thought for pew slip – 25th March 2007

Fifth Sunday in Lent – Year C
Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:4b-14, John 12:1-8

Our readings remind us that old things need to pass away so that new things can come to life. Through Isaiah, the Lord says, “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing.” In his letter to the Philippians St Paul tells us that he has come to regard all his old merits as loss, in order to attain the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ. In the gospel reading Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and Jesus interprets this as her preparing his body for burial.
Of course, when the old things pass away we experience this as loss, or pain or suffering, and we find it very difficult. Fortunately St Paul shows us how to turn these difficulties to our advantage. Like St Paul, we can see our sufferings as a sharing in the sufferings of Christ, and becoming like Christ in his death. If we live our sufferings in this way then we can also hope to be joined to Christ in his resurrection. We start to share in Christ’s new life, and become part of the new order with the new righteousness that comes from faith in Christ. (See also 2 Cor 1:5, 1 Peter 4:13.)