A Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah 31: 31 - 34
This short passage has been described as, “one of the profoundest and most moving passages in the Bible,” Through the voice of the prophet, the Lord God promises that the New Law of God, in contrast with the Old Law written which was written on tablets of stone, will be planted deep in our hearts. Building on the precepts of the Old Testament, the new law will renew and recreate our lives. Thus God will forgive us our past failures, and never call our iniquity to mind. We hear the call to true repentance and a change of heart, which leads to a changes in the way we live our lives.

A Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews 5: 7 - 9
In a few short words, the author of this passage reminds us of the weakness of Jesus in his humanity and suffering, his humility, and at the same time his complete obedience. Through this perfection Jesus is Lord and Saviour for all people who come to him. Jesus as Lord is the source of our freedom and reconciliation with God.

Gospel according to John 12: 20 - 33
This event is placed in the few weeks immediately before Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem for the last time before his death. The “Greeks” who come to speak with Jesus, are likely to be Greek speaking Jews from foreign lands, but may refer, to the non-Jewish gentile nations, also called to faith. There is a hint too that there is not much time left, these are the last days, but here is still time to repent and believe. The reference to the seed dying in the ground, may be a common proverb of that time, but is effective, as it leads us to understand the significance of the death of Jesus and his ‘being lifted up” in the Resurrection. When he is risen, Jesus will call people of every nation to himself.