Born To Die

 

  Jn 12:20-33

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince 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 show the kind of death he was going to die.

This is a somber reminder that we are approaching the Passion and Death of Jesus, yet for sure in the United States, the emphasis will be on celebrating St. Patrick's Day. He himself, most likely would be focused on the words of Jesus, seeing himself as that grain of wheat that fell into the ground in order to eventually provide the bread that would sustain life. Perhaps in our celebrating St. Patrick we might remember his dedication to living and spreading the Gospel with tireless energy and despite threats to his life. A true follower of Jesus, he lived this Gospel passage and invites us to do the same. Being a disciple of St. Patrick is more than just "the wearin' of the green"!

Br. Rene

Dear God, thank you for St. Patrick and the call to die to self and bear fruit like a grain of wheat fallen into the soil. Help me to keep this in mind and in my prayer today. Amen.