Gospel Reading :John 12:24-26
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honour him.
What do the Fathers say?
St AUGUSTINE. It was necessary that His exaltation and glory should be preceded by His humiliation and passion; wherefore He says, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
That grain was He; to be mortified in the unbelief of the Jews, to be multiplied in the faith of the Gentiles.
The Venerable BEDE. He Himself, of the seed of the Patriarchs, was sown in the field of this world, that by dying, He might rise again with increase. He died alone; He rose again with many.
St John CHRYSOSTOM. He illustrates His discourse by an example from nature. A grain of wheat produces fruit, after it has died. How much more then must the Son of God? The Gentiles were to be called after the Jews had finally offended; i. e. after His crucifixion.
And to console the sorrow of His disciples, which He foresaw would arise, He tells them that to bear patiently not only His death, but their own too, is the only way to good: He that loves his life shall lose it.
St THEOPHYLACT. It would be harsh to say that a man should hate his life; so He adds, in this world: i. e. for a particular time, not for ever. And we shall gain in the end by so doing: we shall keep it into eternal life.
St AUGUSTINE. But do not think for an instant, that by hating your life, is meant that you may kill yourself. This Christ did not teach; no, when the devil tempted Him to cast Himself down, He said, Get thee hence, Satan
But when there is no other choice ; when the persecutor threatens death, and you must either disobey God’s law, or depart out of this life, then hate your life in this world, so that you may keep it unto life eternal.
St John CHRYSOSTOM. This present life is sweet to them who are given up to it. But he who looks heavenwards, and sees what good things are there, soon despises this life.
St AUGUSTINE. And what does it mean to serve Christ? They serve Christ who seek not their own things, but the things of Jesus Christ, i. e. who follow Him, walk in His, not their own, ways, do all good works for Christ’s sake,
But what fruit, what reward? you ask.
And where I am, there shall My servant be also. Love Him for His own sake, and think it a rich reward for your service, to be with Him.
Sources:
Bible readings from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Second Catholic Edition, copyright © 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Quotes of the Fathers from Thomas Aquinas’ Catena Aurea Translated by St John Henry Newman
Artwork ex Wikimedia Commons