John. 12,20-33.
Now the hour has come for Jesus to be glorified by returning to the Father through his death, resurrection, and ascension. Earlier Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead, (Ch 11,1-44) and from that miracle onwards, they decided to kill him (11,53), “because many of the Jews who had come to visit Martha and Mary saw what he (Jesus) did believed in him.”
The coming of some Greeks – Gentiles – to see Jesus marks an end to his ministry restricted to the Jews and points to the universality of his mission (to all people), which his death and resurrection will accomplish.
The parable of the single grain of wheat dying to produce a rich harvest exemplifies how Jesus death and resurrection will give life to many, and eventually to the whole world through the giving of his Spirit. According to John’s gospel, this happened when Jesus gave up his spirit (died) on the Cross. The life of Jesus will fill the whole world just like a grain of wheat fills a harvest field. The pattern of Jesus’ life holds true for his disciples as well. They must die to self-centredness to become, life-giving, and other-centred missionaries. Anyone who gives his/her life in this world will save it in eternity. If anyone serves Jesus, he/she must follow him even to death and thereby gain life with him and with God his Father. “Wherever I am my servant will be there too” – on the cross and with the Father.
Since John’s gospel has no Gethsemane story. The nearest we get to one is in today’s gospel’s mention of Jesus’ soul being troubled and in inner turmoil, as if he is assessing his options. Should he ask God to save him from death? We get a glimpse of the humanity of Jesus, (rare for John’s gospel), for John’s portrait emphasises the divinity of Jesus much more than his humanity. For a moment, Jesus is afraid of what lies ahead. Then, immediately, he re-commits himself to his mission and glorifies God for it. He pleads for God’s will to be carried out. His dominant attitude is obedience to the Father. God has been glorified in the signs done through Jesus, from the Wedding at Cana, (where he let his glory be seen), to the raising of Lazarus, (after which the Jewish authorities decided that Jesus must be killed), and he will be glorified again, (one last time), in his death, resurrection and ascension. And then sentence will be passed on the world.
In that moment when Jesus is lifted- up on the Cross as he ascends to his Father’s glory, he will draw all people to himself. The reign of evil and sin was ended by the triumphant Son’s return to his Father in glory; mission accomplished, on that first Holy Week nearly 2000 years ago.
The crucifix is the symbol of Jesus being lifted up and drawing all of us to himself. Let us look at it and ask the Lord to draw us to himself.
The glory of God is a person fully- alive, St Irenaeus of Lyons tells us. God wants us to be full of the new life Jesus gives us – his very own life, which by dying he gave for us and to us. Thank him for that.
Fr Geoff O’Grady