[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: John 12:20-33

“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.” (John 12:24)

Have you ever seen a seed ger­minate? While it is in the soil, the skin encasing it splits open. Next, the seed itself splits in two, and the stem and root unfurl. Gradually, the seed grows smaller as it nourishes the new plant. Eventually, the seed disappears altogether. If you were to look at the plant after a while, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell what the seed looked like.

What a wonderful image this is of the spiritual life! Like a patient farmer, God is always planting seeds in our hearts, waiting for them to “die” so that they can bear fruit. Each season has its own seeds that need to die—parts of us that need to break open so that new life can come forth. As children, we may be bear­ing the fruit of obedience and trust.

As young married couples, we may be learning to pour our lives out as we start a new family. And as sea­soned adults, our fruit may be that of more active involvement in our com­munity or church.

Again, like a wise gardener, only God knows which seeds need to sprout for each season. It’s no use trying to double guess him. And there’s no need. After all, he knows what he is doing!

Try something different in your prayer today. Look back over your life, and try to identify times when a “seed” had to die so that God could bring something new into your life. Ask yourself: “Well, I survived, didn’t I? And I’m better off for having gone through it, aren’t I?”

Now, having reviewed your past, see if there is something that God wants to do in your present. He is never finished with us! There’s always more that he wants to give us—if only we will let him bring life out of death!

“Lord, I want to bear fruit for your kingdom! Help me to shed my comfortable shell so that I can grow in ways even I can’t imagine!”

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Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:3-4,12-15; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33)

1. In the first reading, the Lord promises a new covenant that is much different than the old covenant. It will not be merely a set of external rules and commandments; it will now be written in our hearts. The promise is that we shall actually know the Lord in a personal and intimate way, not just know about him. Why is this now possible for us? What is the difference between a “knowing about” relationship with the Lord and a personal relationship of “knowing” him and “experiencing” his great love? How would you characterize your relationship with the Lord? How can you deepen this relationship?

2. The responsorial Psalm is King David’s great prayer of repentance after he had committed serious sin. How does David’s reaction, reflected in Psalm 51, compare to your reaction when faced with sin in your life?

3. In the second reading, we read that Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered.” What is your reaction to suffering in your life? In what ways has it caused you to grow closer to Jesus and deepened your faith and dependence on him? In what ways has it sometimes caused you to run or try to escape from it, or react in confusion or anger? What steps can be taken to minimize this latter reaction?

4. In the Gospel reading, Jesus continues to focus with increasing clarity on his coming passion and death, the “hour” when redemption will be accomplished by his obedience to his Father and the shedding of his blood. Jesus also says that: “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 … The Father will honor whoever serves me.” Can you give an example from your life when obedience to God caused persecution or suffering, but yet you were able to see God work a mighty “good” in your or someone else’s life? How were you able to maintain an inner peace, knowing you were “following” Jesus and his will for you?

5. In addition to encouraging us to review our past experiences, the meditation also encourages us to “see if there is something that God wants to do in your present.” With Good Friday and Easter fast approaching, what additional steps can you take in the remaining days of Lent to cooperate with the Lord in order to “bring life out of death”?

6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for the grace to grow closer to him and bear fruit for his kingdom. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

UNLESS A GRAIN OF WHEAT FALLS INTO THE EARTH AND DIES   

(A biblical refection on THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT [Year B], 25 March 2012)

Gospel Reading: John 12:20-33

First Reading: Jer 31:31-34; Psalms: Ps 51:3-4,12-15; Second Reading: Heb 5:7-9

The Scripture Text

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Phillip and they told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Thy name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for Mine. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” He said this to show by what death He was to die. (Jn 12:20-33 RSV) 

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12:24). 

Jesus chose to die on the cross so that we might live. This is the very heart of the Gospel message. He is the “seed” that fell to the ground and died, producing much fruit. Now, we who are baptized into His death and resurrection are called to surrender our lives to Him – to die to the life of sin – so that we too may bear fruit.

The thought of dying like a grain of wheat can be frightening at times. We fear the cost of discipleship. Even Jesus, the Son of the Father, drew back from this prospect: “Now is my soul troubled” (Jn12:27), He said, foreshadowing His agony in Gethsemane. Yet Jesus knew that His death and resurrection would allow Him to draw people into His Father’s Kingdom (Jn 12:32).

The author of the ‘Letter to the Hebrews’ alluded to Jesus’ struggle, saying that He “offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears.” Yet, “although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered; and being made perfect He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb 5:7-9).

This is the fruit of Jesus’ crucifixion, the “hour” for which He had come. By His death, Jesus canceled our debt of sin and won eternal life for us. God the Father showed the depths of His love for us in His desire to establish a new covenant with us, one that is written on our hearts (Jer 31:33). Unlike the old covenant, which the people of Israel  broke, this new covenant is unbreakable because it does not depend on the weakness of the human heart. It is based on the power of the indwelling Spirit, who will give grace to anyone who turns to Him in humility and trust.

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, by Your Spirit, enable us to overcome our fear of dying. Like a grain of wheat, enable us to die to ourselves, so that we can bear much fruit for You as we work to build Your Kingdom on earth. As You glorified Your Father by Your obedience to His will, may our willingness to obey Him also bring Him glory and honor. Amen.