Dying and Producing Fruit
Fifth Sunday of Lent (B)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
John 12:20-33 - Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, 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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“…but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Now it is late in Lent. This Gospel takes place in the week before Jesus dies. His Death is very near. It is on His mind and in His discussions. He tells His disciples that, as “a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies” so also His Death will “produce much fruit.” But He doesn’t just talk about His Death. He also includes our deaths and our sufferings. We all hate suffering. And we should try to avoid some unnecessary suffering and to relieve the suffering of others. But we cannot and must not avoid suffering at all costs. We are too quick to fill our lives with comfort. We have backup plans for anything and everything that might go wrong. We want control over everything. But this attitude directly opposes Jesus’ teaching that we must “lose” and “hate” our lives.
This teaching means, in part, that we must not cherish our earthly lives so much that we are unwilling to face any suffering. Jesus promises that our lives will “bear much fruit,” that we will change lives (even eternal lives) of others for the better—those of our spouses, children, friends, and even strangers. But this will only be the case when we are willing to let go of comfort, pleasure, and plans, and accept what God has in store for us, even situations that include suffering. When Jesus faces suffering, He says, “Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came…” He knows His sufferings will have eternal value and will be a means to save others. Christ includes our sufferings in His—that means our sufferings have great value to help others. If we want to change the world, we must relinquish control. How is Christ calling us to suffer with Him? What comfort, security, pleasure, or plan is He asking us to let go of?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
Like Pier? Share it with others (via links below) / Subscribe to it (below) / Support (the mission)
