We continue to look at the new creation that is to be found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus using Genesis 1: 9-13,
John 1: 35-42 and John 12: 20-27.
Opening Liturgy
And God said, "Let the water under the sky be
gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear."
And it was so.
God called the dry ground "land", and the
gathered waters he called "seas".
And God saw that
it was good.
Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation:
seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it,
according to their various kinds."
And it was so.
The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed
according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to
their kinds.
And God saw that
it was good.
And there was evening, and there was morning
the third day.
Genesis 1:9-13 (ANIV)
The next day John was there again with two of his
disciples. When
he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed
Jesus. Turning
round, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher),
"where are you staying?"
"Come," he replied, "and you will
see."
John 1:35-42 (ANIV)
I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to
the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces
many seeds. 25 The
man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this
world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me;
and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who
serves me.
John 12:24-26 (ANIV)
Reflection
I’ve followed
him from the day when John the Baptizer pointed him out to us… Following him
has never been straightforward… But things recently have just been plain
confusing… When we entered into Jerusalem
it seemed as if everything was coming together… Some said it seemed as if the
whole world was at his feet… though that was probably stretching it a bit… But
then some Greek speaking Jews asked to meet with him and we realized that this
was now bigger than we had ever imagined…
But he didn’t
seem to see it that way… yes he seemed to think it was important… But he
started to talk sowing seeds and reaping more… I suppose with it being the
harvest season it brought it to mind… and it brought me back to my childhood
days… sowing seed and following the plough… but it then became clear that he
was talking about death and dying… and how we who were following him should be
ready to die if we are expecting any eternal rewards…
When I started following
him it was because I thought that he was the one who would make all things
right… Take away the sin of the world, as John had said…
Now? I’m not so
sure. How could his death, or ours make a difference? What good could grow from
such a seed?
Prayer
Jesus forgive us
when we play at following you
Forgive us that we
forget what it costs to be fruitful
You, and you alone
know what potential lies within us
Help us to die to
self so that we might know life in all its fullness
Help us to die to
self so that others might live
Help us to die to
self
Help us to die
May we go into
this day, knowing that we are a new creation, children of God, followers of
Christ, servants of the sacrificial servant. May we live and die faithfully and
fruitfully through Jesus Christ. AMEN
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