| Readings for March 25, 2012
Everyone dies. Some die suddenly and tragically. Others die a slow and agonizing death, their loved ones journeying with them until the final moments. Others die alone.
Today's gospel tells us that Jesus unites himself with us in this most profound moment of our lives. As he always does, Jesus gives us an image to reflect on so that we might explore more deeply its meaning in our own lives-a simple grain of wheat. Kept in our hand or in a container it has ultimate potential. Yet unless we are willing to risk planting it, it remains sterile. And what is the risk? That the seed may die without producing fruit, that it will get dislodged from the earth or eaten. It might shrivel from lack of water. We already know all the risks from one of Jesus' other stories of seeds. Even if the seed does produce much fruit it does so only at very great cost. The seed itself must give its very life. It must be transformed. Before it produces fruit it will be unrecognizable.
In the face of death we can all identify with the words of Jesus "I am troubled now. Yet, what should I say? Father, save me from this hour." Death, in all its forms, troubles us. Would that we could be saved from that hour. Yet, it is not so much our final death that causes us the most fear. It is in the moments we must come to grips with the deaths that confront us daily that we need the strength of Jesus.
We are so reluctant to face the other deaths in our lives. Today's readings point us toward the risks we must take in order for our own lives to produce good fruit. The first lines of the Gospel are very important. It tells us that "some Greeks" came to the Passover feast and wanted to see Jesus. In John's community this seems to be a sign that Jesus ministry to the Jewish people has reached a stage where it must go beyond itself to include the Gentiles. What a death that must have been! The "Chosen" now had to consider expanding their understanding of this title. They had to include "the other." What that must have demanded from them. Like the seed it was possible that their community would be unrecognizable. And yet, it had the potential for such great growth, such abundant fruit. In what ways do we view ourselves as chosen, as better, as holier, as righteous? What would have to die in us in order to us to recognize, include and rejoice in "the other?"
The reading from Jeremiah is even more challenging. The Lord says, "I will make a new covenant." God is changing the original agreement! What can stand if even God is willing to let the old die in order to achieve something new? But, what an idea! To move from a law written on stone to one which is placed within our very hearts. The law of stone-so structured, so unyielding, so distant, so impersonal. That law can be used by others to manipulate, to control, to obscure the real meaning and allow it to serve their own purposes. But the law that God places in our hearts, that is the law that will transform us each individually. Everyone will know God as God truly is.
What deaths will that require? What institutions will have to die? What leaders will have to give up power? What rules will have to be forgotten? Like the seed it is possible that this death will come at an incredible cost. The mighty will be thrown down from their thrones, those in control over others will have to let go of their power. The poor and the powerless will become equals to the powerful. "I will be their God, and they shall be my people." A new covenant! Who will benefit? Who will resist? Who will fight against the death of institutions and who will welcome it? Can we expect, even in our day, that God continues to invite us into a new covenant?
In the face of death we can react with fear or reverence. Paul tells us of Jesus' example of learning from his suffering and responding with reverence. We, too, can reverently accept our deaths and the deaths of our institutions and culture so that they and we can be made perfect by the suffering that will entail.
Everyone dies, everything dies. But it is Jesus who assures us that great new life can come from death if we put our faith and trust in God. We are not alone. Jesus promises to draw everyone to himself.
Prayer: Take some time this week to reflect on the words of the hymn, "Unless a Grain of Wheat Shall Fall."
Christine Ondrla is the Director of Religious Education at Ascension Parish. She has experienced many deaths in her life and rejoices that the promise of new life is true.
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