“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Thursday, 10th August 2017.
Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr.
2 Cor 9: 6-10;
Ps 112: 1-2, 5-9 (R) 5;
Jn 12: 24-26.
A GRAIN OF WHEAT!
“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 12:24. Jesus speaks directly about the need to die to yourself so that your life will bear abundant good fruit. So, easy to say, yet hard to live. The hard part begins with the initial acceptance of the fact that dying to yourself is necessary and good. The grain must detach from the head and fall to the ground. This image is one of complete detachment. That single grain of wheat must “let go” of everything. This image tells us that if we want God to work miracles in us, we must be ready and willing to let go of all to which we are attached. It means we enter into a true abandonment of our will, our preferences, our desires and our hopes. Death to ourselves means we trust God more than the things we are attached to in this life. It means we believe that God’s plan is infinitely better than any plan we can come up with.
For any seed to spring, it is necessary to change from its original state, receive air, water, light and environment which favors growth for it. If it allows itself to be changed, then we see the roots springing, leaves sprouting, the branches grow, then the tree gives the fruit or seeds similar to the seed which died. In the history of the Christian life we are told, this was the case of the blood of the martyrs. Saint Lawrence, a third century deacon and martyr whom we remember today, presents us with a literal image of one who gave up everything, including his very life, so as to say “Yes” to God. He gave up all his wealth, and when commanded by the prefect of Rome to turn over all the treasures of the Church, Lawrence brought to him the poor and the sick. The prefect, in anger, sentenced Lawrence to death by fire. Lawrence gave up everything to follow His Lord. St. Lawrence likened to a seed that dies but later produces much fruit. Martyrs died striving in their unfailing faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and thus through their death, many people also came to believe in the teaching and faith of Christ. Today, Christ invites us to lay down our lives in professing our faith in Christ. Reflect, today, upon that which God may be calling you to let go of. What is it that He wants you to surrender? Surrendering is the key to letting God do glorious things in your life.
Prayer: Lord, help me to let go of my own preferences and ideas in life that are not in accord with Your divine will. Help me to always believe that You have an infinitely better plan. As I embrace that plan, help me to trust that You will bring forth an abundance of good fruit. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
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