Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 5th Sunday of Lent – Cycle B

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Jeremiah 31:31-34
  • Hebrews 5:7-9
  • John 12:20-33

It was Saturday afternoon, and Martin Pauline was in his favorite hide-away: his woodworking shop.  He had about an hour to work on his latest project, a wooden cross.  He hoped to have it done before Holy Week so the family could hang it in the dining room.

Up above, things were pretty noisy.  The kids had some friends over, and everyone was inside, taking a break from sledding.  There had been a heavy, wet, late-winter snow during the night.

Suddenly, Martin remembered old Mrs. Wycoff who lived down the street.  The Pauline family had sort of adopted Mrs. Wycoff as their grandmother.  She was 85 and still able to live alone, but she certainly could not get out and shovel the snow from her sidewalks or walk to the store for her groceries as she usually did on Saturday.

Martin knew what he should do, but he certainly hated leaving this project behind.  He knew he would be too busy later to return to his workshop and finish the cross.  Up the stairs he went and into the family room.  “Vincent—just the strong, young man I am looking for.  And here are your two buddies, Andrew and Mike.  Say, guys, put those snow pants back on and grab the shovels in the garage.  We are going to Mrs. Wycoff’s to shovel her sidewalks and driveway.” 

“Oh, Dad, do we have to?  We just came in, and we are tired after sledding for two hours,” whined Vincent.  “I just fixed this hot chocolate for the guys.”

“Okay, you can finish your hot chocolate while I give Mrs. Wycoff a call to let her know we are coming,” said Mr. Pauline.  “You know, Vince, I hate to give up my time in the woodworking shop today, too.  You know what I mean?  But, I think the Lord is calling us to serve Him by serving Mrs. Wycoff.  If we all work together, it won’t take long.  And when I go to the grocery store for her, I will pick up some treats for you guys— maybe some donuts or something, okay?”

Vince and his buddies were won over.  They could have fun and do a good deed for someone else.

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat
falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.
(John 12:24-26)

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B – 5 LentDownload

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