The seeing of Jesus

The meaning of life often eludes those who think they are living it to the hilt. Even if we have everything in the world – money, fame, jewels, beauty and even brains, la dolce vita – when death comes, that’s the end of it. It is easy to see life that comfortable way; it is harder to see life Jesus’ way. It is harder to see why, to be able to have life we have to die to many things including self. To induce growth, the plant must be pruned; so that new fruit will come, old branches must be cut and grafted; for more produce and a good harvest, seeds must be buried in the earth. The paradox of dying that we might have life exists in nature, which reflects profoundly the mystery of Christ’s atoning death. It is a mystery hard to understand and even harder to believe and live by.

Beautifully, Christ speaks about this mystery in His life with us and when He does, He is giving us His own seeing of His supreme role as Savior of the world. What a terrible sacrifice Christ accepted voluntarily to beg the Father forgiveness of our sins. And how did Jesus accept? His words were: "Father, glorify Your Name!" The crowd heard it and was puzzled. The tribulations and sufferings of this life could puzzle us that way. Sometimes when we meet with misfortunes like failure in our careers, a financial setback, sickness, and other sufferings, it would not even occur to us to think of all such trials as a glorification. The first thing we do is to complain, even murmuring to God why the neighbor next door is far luckier. They have everything going their way and they don’t even go to Mass; they are always in a joy ride, shopping spree at the malls. They can afford most everything. When we find ourselves in such a predicament, it is time to kneel in prayer for a deepening of faith. Faith, so that like Jesus, we are able to say: "Now, this is the hour, Father, glorify Your Name!" For God never meant us to seek our real life of happiness and glory here on earth. For He said: "Amen, 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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves Me" (Jn. 12:24-26).

Let us pray the Spirit that we may be given the light that must eventually come to us when we are chosen to carry a portion of the Cross of Christ; for we are assured by Christ the grace that must surely come from the Cross borne well — the grace of closeness to Him who said: "And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself" (Jn 12:32).

Sixth Sunday of Lent, John 13:20-33.