Dying for a rich harvest – Majellan Media

Dying for a rich harvest – 5th Sunday Lent Year B

When we know something good or bad is about to happen, we like to be prepared. We may even sacrifice something to make way for what’s to come.

Today’s gospel tells us the time has come, and it leads us as disciples of Christ closer to our destination. Jesus himself proclaims that: “Now the hour has come for the son of man to be glorified.” Jesus, the Lord was about to be arrested, punished and killed, yet he spoke about His glory. He gave His own life so that we can have the path to follow to eternal life. Jesus sees beyond the clouds of pains and difficulties in order to behold success, joy and everlasting life.

Jesus certainly knew that his suffering, death and resurrection would restore life to all creation. He was motivated by His compassion to save everyone. Hence, Jesus offered His life in order to restore our broken relationship with God and one another. For all who believe in Him, He leads to eternal life. Jesus confirms his proclamation as he says: “Unless a grain of wheat dies it remains a single grain, but if it dies it yields a rich harvest.”

The proclamation “the hour has come …” reaches out to everyone. The presence of some Greeks in today’s gospel who want to meet Jesus shows us that the Glorification of Jesus Christ – suffering, death, resurrection and ascension – is available to all. Unfortunately, not everyone wants to listen to Jesus’ proclamation. But Jesus never stops inviting us to take this journey. He wants us to be where He is. He asks us to be ready to endure as he did. We must be ready to die as a grain dies in order to regenerate new hope and life to everyone.

Being true disciples of Jesus, we are invited to “die or sacrifice or let things go” for justice, for truth, saying no to exploitation and abuse, being open and transparent, welcoming and loving others as they are, and caring for our “common home”.

This “daily death of a grain” can weaken us physically, but it strengthens us spiritually. Therefore, as we continue our journey with Christ this Lenten season, the suffering and death of Jesus must be ours too. Lent is a time to prepare to celebrate the Glory of God through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. This is the taste of His promise for eternal life which we are hoping for.

May our desire to meet the Lord as the Greeks did, keep burning in our hearts, irrespective of what our life situations may be. As we are on the journey to seek God’s Glory and eternal life, let us allow the Lord to empower us with the Holy Spirit and remember that only in Jesus can we find the fulness of life and the true joy.

God bless us and our world.

Redempt Jawa CSsR