John 12: 20-33

There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: “Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?”

Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. Jesus answered, “Time’s up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.

“If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honour and reward anyone who serves me.

“Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.’”

A voice came out of the sky: “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.” The listening crowd said, “Thunder!” Others said, “An angel spoke to him!”

Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.

Gospel Reflection

This week it is Jesus who is reflecting on the mission ahead. Fully human, it can’t be easy for him to fully understand the need for his sacrifice. He uses what we all understand as one of nature’s processes.

The story does not end with the seed that is planted and grows to fruition. The seed must fall again so that the world may move forward, so that life continues to live. In our own lives we cannot allow ourselves to become like stone. There is no point on the journey when we have done enough or achieved enough. Not in a worldly or competitive way but in the ways of faith and compassion.

There is always something more we can offer, some other part of ourselves that can serve. If we are willing to make the sacrifice.