Saint Lawrence
Jn 12: 24-26
Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Without Death There Is No Life
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat.” Jesus’ timeless image is one of the central paradoxes of the Christian life: without death to self and others there can be no life in Christ. Jesus’ own life and death epitomize his teaching: without Christ’s death, there would be no life for us.
At every Mass, Christians are formed in this Christian paradox through the Eucharist: this is my body which is given up for you. Through the Eucharist we enter Christ’s Paschal mystery. Through the Eucharist, we hear our mission statement as Christians no matter our vocation: this is my body which is given up for you.
The next time we are at Mass, let us pray before the Eucharist to be formed to have hearts like Christ to embrace death to self as a pathway to life with Christ.
—Fr. Jonathon Polce, SJ, was ordained a priest this summer and is beginning an assignment at Jesuit High School New Orleans. He is a member of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province.
Prayer
Blessed the one who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
—Psalm 112:1