V Sunday of Lent – Cycle B – March 21, 2021 God is life and nothing he has created dies or passes in vain or without purpose Jeremiah 31: 31-34 / Psalm 51 / Hebrews 5: 7-9 / John 12: 20-33
In a presentation to a Catholic organization of which I am a board member, the presenter, Sister Lynn, spoke eloquently about our need to move in a new direction. As part of that recommendation, she exclaimed, “A butterfly is not a better caterpillar.”
Her message reminds us that, like the butterfly, we, as individuals and organizations, are called to become new, to be willing to shed what is not fruitful and recognize that we, as God’s children and thanks to his promise of redemption, can become a new creation.
Today’s reading from the Gospel according to John includes a well-known saying from Jesus: “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.”
Such images from nature are fascinating and our Creator hopes we discern wisdom from them. A new creation is in some way indebted to the former manner of existence. The old way is not destroyed but provides nourishment to the new life and new fruit. The grain of wheat and the caterpillar fulfill their mission when the new creation emerges. God is life and nothing he has created dies or passes in vain or without purpose.
Christ invites us to new life. His invitation calls out for our response. He invites and challenges us to recognize the truth of his mercy and our need for redemption so that we turn away from sin, especially our fears, greed and selfishness, and seek to truly live by being in union with him and our neighbor, the people we encounter in our lives.
It has much to do with having the courage to evaluate our lives in order to recognize the grace and sin which make up our history and current situation. Some aspects we perceive are like the dead branches that need to be pruned; other aspects need to die and fade away so that God’s goodness might emerge more strongly within us.
Achieving our true purpose requires the sacrifice of that which impedes our experiencing the fullness of life which Christ longs to give us. Following him and loving according to his example means we must be willing to take risks and let go of former ways which can become obstacles to growing in wisdom and grace. In a word, conversion.
I have said it before and you will hear me say it again, God sees us as we have been, sees us as we are and as who we can be. In other words, God is merciful and patient and he has more confidence in us than we do in ourselves. He recognizes our potential, which has everything to do with the God-given strengths and capabilities within each of us.
Some important questions surge forth, however. If God sees us for who we can be, are we willing to go there? Have we become content with old, comfortable ways when new trust and vitality of faith are needed?
The world might see just a grain of wheat, dead and lying on the ground. Christ sees it as the seed of new life, a grain that, even if it dies, can grow and bear fruit. The old life of the grain of wheat passes away, but new life is waiting to break through.
The world might look upon us with indifference, but not the Lord. He recognizes us as who we are, as his children. John Cardinal O’Connor, the archbishop of New York City many years ago, wrote: “The reason Christ came into this world was to pick up the pieces of our broken lives.”
Christ sees life where many, and especially the world, see death or see something as worthless. The Lord sees the broken pieces of our lives as that which can be made new and restored to wholeness.
Christ not only sees hope in the dark moments of our lives, but he is also the light. He not only sees us for who we are, but for whom we can become. The question returns, if God sees us for who we can be, are we willing to get there? The good news is that he does not refer to a place, but to the fruit of a relationship, the receiving of his mercy.
God in Christ is always willing to come to us. As we move towards the celebration of his resurrection at Easter, may we have the courage to put aside former ways of fear, doubt and sin and welcome him.
Peace be with you! Fr. Charles Johnson, O.P.
Notes:
¹ “The Week of Reconciliation,” Holy Week articles, Magnificat, March 2021