Jesus said to his disciples: “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. (Jn:12:26).
In reading this verse, I was transported back to Middle School. Our sixth-grade class was dismissed to head to the cafeteria for the Science Fair. As I drew closer I could hear some unintelligible chanting going on. Of course, I was curious and craned my neck to see over the other students filing in as we entered our destination. I drew closer to see a circle of kids chanting and circling. I stopped as I heard muffled groans and then saw one of my friends standing in the center of the circle, his forearms pulled up to cover his face. No one was laying a hand on him, but that heckling and chanting was inflicting its damage. I froze not knowing what to do or how to act.
I don’t remember how the situation was resolved, but I remember how bad I felt that day, and still do for not doing anything. I also withdrew from my friend when I saw him later because I felt so bad, I couldn’t even be there for him to provide any comfort as I was still only thinking of myself and not his feelings.
That day, I remained just a grain of wheat. I was unwilling, unable to die to myself to stand up for my friend or provide any comfort.
When we find ourselves in such situations, when another’s human dignity is being diminished, even now as adults, Jesus reminds us that we are not to love our life, assess our own self-interest first, or we will lose it. Instead we are to love, to will the good of the other, to hate our life in this world so as to preserve it for eternal life (cf. Jn 12:25) By building a foundation of thinking of the other first instead of ourselves we will be in a better position to serve as Jesus did.
May we pray for each other today, that we may draw strength from Jesus, to be that grain of wheat that dies to self, so that our actions directed toward others may be empowering, caring, and supportive; and may we bear the fruit of his courage to stand up, to speak up and out, for the dignity of those in our midst who are treated in any way that belittles or demeans their dignity as a person.
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Mass Readings for today, Thursday, August 10, 2017:
Spiritual Stepping Stones 