Mission Enhancement Team Facilitator Alison Ryan has given her insights on the Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent as part of the Australian Women Preach podcast.
In her role, Alison supports parishes and other Catholic communities across the Diocese in pastoral planning, leadership development, renewal and adult faith formation. She also contributes spiritual reflections to the Diocese’s Soul Food Podcast.
Reflecting on John 12:20-33, Alison explains that as we approach the end of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week, we are asked to walk closely with Jesus as His disciples.
“It is only through the giving up of life, His life, that the door is opened to eternal life for all,” she said.
“Jesus is inviting His disciples, inviting us, to follow Him along the path to salvation.
“If we are really follow Jesus in this upside-down way, then we must be willing to sacrifice what we so often hold tightly to in our own lives, sacrificing for the higher values of God’s Kingdom.
“It’s this willingness to let go that often leads us to surprising opportunities of new life and freedom.”
Australian Women Preach is an initiative of Women and the Australian Church (WATAC) and the Grail in Australia, who have marked three years of raising women’s voices in preaching the Gospel.
The podcast features women from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, theological perspectives and denominations preaching about the upcoming Sunday’s Gospel.
You can listen to Alison’s reflection on Spotify, Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts.
The Diocese of Parramatta reaffirms the wise axiom attributed to Saint Augustine of Hippo: “in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, freedom; in all things, charity.” In this spirit, Catholic Outlook publishes a variety of Catholic viewpoints. They are not necessarily the official views of the Diocese of Parramatta.
