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
Many of us are not used to doing or
liking things that require us to sacrifice or set aside our preferences and
desires. We are regularly taught (and rewarded) to get what we want when we
want it—immediate gratification. This leads to an attitude of
self-preservation; we feel that we have to fight for our happiness or for good
things which oftentimes puts us in competition with others.
In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds his
disciples that we already hold true happiness and joy within us; we don’t have
to go fighting for it or searching far and wide. This path to true joy and
happiness is deep, eternal and hits at the core of who God made us to be. This
path is not jealous, not pompous, not
inflated, not rude, does not seek its own interests…but bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
The path to happiness and joy is
loving as God loves us. This love looks different than how we are often told,
it is rarely immediate but it is always gratifying and fruitful, this is agape love, (total self-gift).
In Jesus we find the fulfillment of agape love,—the love of the cross. Love
always requires sacrifice, to believe otherwise is to be constantly
disappointed. This sacrifice cannot be forced but must be offered freely with
no strings attached, as a gift. When love is offered as a gift our little
dying-s to self are allowed to produce much fruit in us and in the other. This
is the love that God has planted in our hearts to bear fruit for the world.
Questions
for Reflection and Discussion
-What are the ways that I am regularly
able to sacrifice out of love for others?
-What are the ways that I find it
difficult/painful to sacrifice out of love for others?
-Who are the people that I have
difficulty loving?
-How are my Lenten commitments going
to Fast, Pray, and Give?
This
week…
-Spend time praying with the image of
Jesus on the cross and ask God to help you love like Jesus.
-Sacrifice for someone else in a way
that goes beyond what you would normally do.
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