Gospel: John 12:20–33
Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.
Reflection:
Our Gospel for today is very wonderful because it talks about life and death. In every death, there is life – this is the true meaning of Lent and of Easter. The grain of wheat will die and will go through death nourish us with abundance food. In the death of relationships, of health, of faith and all that may be dear to us there is always the invitation to deeper beyond life. In our final death is the call to everlasting life. It is the new beginning that will never end. We all will die someday and I know we are all scared with it. Who isn’t? But we still keep going and we put our confidence to our creator.
‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.’ In our lives, we need to fall into the earth and die in order for us to bear much fruit. How do we do this? With Holy Week fast approaching, Jesus is here speaking in the shadow of the valley of demise. Jesus died on the cross to save our sins. He loves us dearly that He sacrificed Himself for us. This alone will remind us every day to do a little sacrifice for Him. We remind ourselves that that without Good Friday there could be no Easter Sunday.
This Holy Week, we need to do penance and fast ourselves a little. We need to feel the suffering of Jesus when He carried the cross for us. We need to open our eyes and see the real meaning of Lenten Season. It doesn’t have to be big but a little sacrifice means a lot. To put ourselves in the shoes of others and do charity works will suffice everything.
Lord, thank you for carrying the cross for us your people. We are sinners yet you died for us. We are humbly asking you to grace us to be like you in all ways. Amen. – Clea | Helpline PH
