On this Tuesday of Holy Week, we hear from the 12th chapter of the Gospel according to John as Jesus draws closer to Good Friday:
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish 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. 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. (Jn. 12: 20-26).
The leaders of the Chosen People had rejected Jesus, but the Gentiles seek him out. Jesus tells his disciples and those who seek him out that following Jesus and God’s will is a costly vocation. Jesus came to reconcile the world to God and us to one another. Jesus came for the forgiveness of sins. He knows what will be required of him. Jesus knows that he will be put to death, but that his sacrifice will bear much fruit. You and I are called to follow him and to serve others as instruments of Jesus’ reconciling love.
Let us pray: O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish 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. 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. (Jn. 12: 20-26).
The leaders of the Chosen People had rejected Jesus, but the Gentiles seek him out. Jesus tells his disciples and those who seek him out that following Jesus and God’s will is a costly vocation. Jesus came to reconcile the world to God and us to one another. Jesus came for the forgiveness of sins. He knows what will be required of him. Jesus knows that he will be put to death, but that his sacrifice will bear much fruit. You and I are called to follow him and to serve others as instruments of Jesus’ reconciling love.
Let us pray: O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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