Gospel: John 12:20-33
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, 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. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
27 ‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’
29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’
30 Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.31 Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
Grain of Truth
John doesn't tell us about Jesus's birth. He writes about the Incarnation instead. Matthew tells about Jesus's childhood, describing the kings that came from the East to "worship him" in Matthew 2:2. Other people from another nation came from the West, from Greece. They "went up to Jerusalem to worship," John 12:20, hoping that their worship would be fulfilled by meeting Jesus. The Magi coming from the East ask King Herod to lead them to Jesus. The Greeks ask the disciples to do the same. East and West are looking to see and worship this historical Jesus. The first worshipers from the East arrive before Jesus's hour, and the second worshipers from the West arrive just before the "hour" that Jesus mentions several times.
We are used to seeing Jesus respond to questions with another question. He invites the person that asked to be a part of the answer, and to deepen his/her knowledge and faith. Our amazing Lord, when Philip and Andrew tell him some Greeks want to see him, does not refuse their request. He invites them and the crowd to go further and deeper and higher. Were they looking for the historical Jesus, the man Jesus in his human flesh? If so, soon he is going to be in the tomb! Rather, let them look for him as the Christ, our Savior who will be lifted up on the cross to redeem humankind. With them, he redeems the whole creation which was frustrated because of the first sin of disobedience against God's will. Romans 8:22-24a,
"22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved....”
In verse 24, Jesus gives an allegory using the grain of wheat as a foreshadow of his death and resurrection. The grain sowed in the earth dies and then comes back to life with many fruits. "He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die," verse 33
To meet the spiritual Lord Jesus, we have to die to ourselves, bury our personal and private ego, and consider Jesus as our model for life! Seeing Jesus and hearing him does not create a disciple. True discipleship is born in us by following him as he carries us on his cross. Now it is our turn to carry his cross that leads to life, a new life with him.
With the Greek visitors, after a time of meditation and prayer, if we understand Jesus's response, we see him coming to us before we go to meet him. He takes the first step of love and acceptance of our worship. We are invited to join the Greeks that ask to meet Jesus, who is lifted up from the earth and draws every one to him! May we think about this grain of wheat when we take our daily bread, and seek the true, living and loving Jesus today.
Father Kamal - March 21, 2021