Sunday 17 March
This week’s first reading from Jeremiah is a very powerful image and a foreshadowing of the message and ministry of Jesus. In the Jeremiah reading, the Lord announces that (yet again) a new covenant will be made between the people and their God. This time however, the covenant will not be a collection of rules written in stone as was the case with the covenant of the Ten Commandments after the people had been led out of slavery in Egypt. The people have demonstrated that they are not able to uphold that covenant. This time, God declares that the covenant will be ‘planted deep within them’ and ‘written on their hearts’. This is a wonderful image: I will write my covenant on your heart! It is the message that Jesus tried to convey over and over again – the Law of God is not to be found in a multitude of rules and regulations but it is a Law of the heart, calling for compassion and love.
This message is no better demonstrated than in this week’s gospel passage. Jesus declares that, ‘unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.’ He is speaking of course about his own life, but he is speaking also to those around him and those of us who read the words today. Unless we are prepared to let go of our ego, our status, our ‘reputation’, for the sake of others and respond to them from the heart then we can never experience the breadth and depth of what it means to belong to a community. When we are prepared to let go of our hang-ups and reservations to make a difference in the lives of others then the ‘harvest’ that will be gathered from those actions will be great indeed!
Gospel Focus – Love of life
Jesus says, ‘Anyone who loves (their) life loses it; anyone who hates (their) life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.’ This can seem pretty tough! It challenges us about how much we cling to the ‘things’ of this life. Are we concerned about the labels on our clothes; the number of our friends; how much money we have; the sort of house we live in? If this is the ‘life’ that we place meaning on, then we will surely lose it. However, if we put aside the world’s focus on material things and focus our attention on others then we are assured of eternal life.
Everyone is part of God’s Kingdom
The gospel reading begins with some Greeks wanting to meet Jesus. Why is it significant that they were Greeks? The Jews were very clear about the distinction between Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). Regardless of their intentions and goodwill, a Gentile was simply not a Jew. Greeks, who worshipped an entire pantheon of gods, were regarded as almost as far from Jewish belief in one God as was possible. Yet Jesus made clear that his message was for everyone: Jew and Gentile alike. His death and resurrection would bring a ‘rich harvest’ of belief among Gentiles as well as Jews. John is drawing on the Old Testament, particularly Zechariah 8 where the prophet proclaims that in the last days, foreigners would come to Jerusalem seeking salvation. ‘Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem . . . In those days, ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’ (Zech 8:22-23) With the coming of the Greeks, Jesus realises that the last days have begun.
Scriptural context – The Final Days
Today’s reading reminds us that we are closing in on the events of the Passion that we will remember more closely over the next couple of weeks. Although the Gospel of John appears to have Jesus in and around Jerusalem quite often, the events described in this week’s reading take place in the preparation for Passover, immediately before the final days leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is a fitting culmination to the Sunday gospels of Lent. It prepares us for the account of the Passion that will be the gospel next week.
Prayer of Confession (inspired by John 12:20-33)
Lord, we confess that we love our lives as they are.
We struggle with even the idea of change.
We wrestle with the thought of doing things differently.
But we know that the life we cling to is only a half-life.
Only you, O Lord, can give us true life in full.
Forgive us for holding onto the wrong things.
Teach us by your Spirit to let go of our agendas and assumptions.
Help us to let go of our self-righteousness and false notions of power.
Give us the strength and courage to try new things.
Encourage us – and even push us –
to let go of ourselves so we can fully embrace you, Holy God.
We pray these things in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
