The Coming of Jesus’ Hour

Today's Reflections

 

The Coming of Jesus’ Hour

 

Jn 12:20-33

²⁰Some Greeks... who had come up to worship at the [Passover] feast ²¹...came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” ²²Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴Amen, 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. ²⁵Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

²⁷“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. ²⁸Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” ²⁹The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. ³¹Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. ³²And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” ³³He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

 

Reflection:
 

IF IT DIES, IT PRODUCES MUCH FRUIT. Jesus gives a new direction; he presents a paradigm shift that he lives himself. It is in self-giving that we have self-fulfillment, in self-emptying that we have fullness of life, and in self-offering that we have self-worth. The focus is on giving rather than receiving, service rather than self-preservation, and dying to self rather than security of self.

The seed must fall to the ground and die. It must take in water, sun, and nutrients in the soil. And it must depend on the care of the planter. Only with these situations can the seed live, grow, and bear fruit. This is also what it means to empty self, to suffer, and to sacrifice. We must be totally dependent on the care and guidance of the sower Jesus. Only then can we grow in faith and bear lasting fruits of good works.

Our baptism is our dying to self and sin and our rising to a new life in Jesus. How do we experience dying to self as to produce much fruit? We can be of real use to God if we bury our selfish ambitions and whims. We can be true workers for God if we reject the lure of pleasure, prestige, and popularity. We can serve God and his people if we are willing to give our time, talents, and treasure for the good of others.

Be attentive to God’s presence.
Allow yourself to be touched by God.
Be transformed.