Dear Friends,
It gives me great joy to write to you on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel reading from John Chapter 12 gives us the opportunity to consider something small, something really small -- a grain of wheat. Jesus uses a grain of wheat to illustrate his point. He says, “…unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat…” (Jn 12:24) He tells us that the grain of wheat must die in order to produce much fruit.
With these words, Jesus is referring to his coming Passion, Death, and Resurrection which we will celebrate next week during Holy Week. His words are also directed at you and me in this age. Jesus calls us to die to self and to relent to God’s will. Only then can he bring forth a fruitful harvest in the here and now.
Jesus continues. He says, “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.” (Jn 12: 26) Here, Jesus calls us to service and to selflessness. He wants us to be centered on others.
As always, being selfless is easier said, than done. Some would say, “it’s impossible.” Many times, this is a struggle for me. The only way that a person can be selfless and love another is with God’s grace. God’s grace allows a person to live according to God’s will. His grace allows one to love as he loves. We have Jesus’ example of selflessness demonstrated on the Crucifix. He died for love of us. He died to redeem us from sin.
Jesus challenges us to live contrary to popular culture where the focus is on self, …on me and mine. What is our response to his challenge?
One way to respond to the challenge is with prayer. In prayer, we can ask God to change us and make us selfless. We can ask him to help us love our enemies. We should pray that the Lord blesses our enemies.
We should ask the Holy Spirit to teach us each how to love as God loves. In addition, we can ask Jesus to help us live for others. Then after praying and asking for God’s help, we need to act! Only through action can I know if God is answering my prayers. For example, smile and say hello to that person at work that never acknowledges you. You’ll know God is at work in you, if you are not annoyed when they snub you, yet again.
Might I suggest praying a blessing over the driver that cuts you off or that takes your favorite parking spot? You’ll know that God is at work when you can gladly give an aggressive driver the right-of-way. You will recognize God’s work in you when you can pray for a reckless driver’s safety…and really mean it!
If each of us expresses selflessness and love of others in the coming days, we can make Christ present in our homes, communities, schools, and workplaces. We can make visible the love of God. We can be part of the fruitful harvest in the here and now.
I close with a prayer by a Franciscan preacher:
Jesus, You give us the secret to happiness and holiness in the way you died to yourself so that we could live. Give us the grace to do the same. Amen.
YBIC,
Deacon Ray Rodriguez
