Fr Marco Lazzaron
he hour of Jesus’ passion is now near, and so he goes up to Jerusalem to celebrate his last Passover. St John says that in Jerusalem “among those who had come up for worship during the feast, there were also some Greeks”, non-Jews, pagans. Certainly, they are there not for the Jewish feast but to see Jesus. Even though they do not dare to speak to him directly, they approach Philip. He appears hesitant to favor this meeting and turns to Andrew; together they then go to Jesus. To them, Jesus replies: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”. Jesus knows well that the hour of Passion, the hour of trial, the hour of sacrifice is getting near. In this regard, Jesus tells a story everybody can get: “If the grain of wheat, falling to the ground, does not die, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit”. Like a grain of wheat, he fell to the ground in his passion and death, and reappeared bearing fruit with his resurrection: the Church, some theologians say, is born at his Crucifixion. We are the fruit of that single grain of wheat.
All humanity was raised from the dead with Christ, not just us baptized people, because he died for everyone, he redeemed everyone. The Gospel passage ends with these significant words of Jesus: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me”.
Jesus says later: “he who loves his life loses it and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life”. Falling to the ground and dying is therefore not only the way to bear fruit but also to “save one’s life”. What happens to the grain of wheat that refuses to fall to the ground? Either some bird comes and eats it, or it dries up and molds in a damp corner. If instead it is sown, it will grow again, it will know the warmth of spring and the sun of summer. He will know a new life! This means that if a man does not also take his cross, and abandon his selfishness, everything will end with his death. If, however, he believes and accepts the cross in union with Christ, then he will save his life, and bear much fruit. This means that if we want to be authentic disciples of Jesus, we must follow him on the path of his Passion, Death and Resurrection.
And finally, we hear of Jesus’ disturbance at the thought of his own imminent death: “Now my soul is troubled”. However, Jesus reacts to this disturbance by showing firm faith: “What will I say? Father, save me from this hour? But this is precisely why I have come to this hour! Father, glorify your name”. He too was afraid, but he accepted God’s will and did not escape. And God’s response is not long waited for: “Then a voice came from heaven: I have glorified him, and I will glorify him again”. And Jesus will show the glory of God working in his life in only one way: “loving his own to the end” (cfr. Jn 13:1).
So, are we also willing to identify with the grain of wheat that fell to the ground? Are we willing to take up the cross every day? Are we willing to remain faithful to Christ? The image of the grain of wheat is simple, but capable of accompanying and inspiring our life, until the end.