In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord used the metaphor of a grain of wheat to illustrate his teaching on true discipleship. The idea of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and its transformation into a mature plant producing a harvest is easy for everyone to understand because it is the way of nature.
Jesus stresses that this way of dying to produce fruit is the preferred and only way of following him not only because it is the way of nature but because this is what Jesus himself chose to do for us. And true followers and disciples are expected to follow the example and footsteps of their Master, “who has not come to be served but to serve and give his life to redeem many.” (Mk 10: 45)
After Peter’s profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus’ message to his disciples was very clear: “If you want to follow me, deny yourself take up your cross and follow me.” (Mk 9: 34)
St. Lawrence of the early Church is an excellent example of giving up his life in the following of Jesus and in the service of his Church. In giving up his life, like the grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying in order to grow and bear a harvest, St. Lawrence’s courage and martyrdom have encouraged and strengthened the faith of many others.
The first reading from Paul’s second letter to the Church in Corinth confirms the necessity of giving generously in order to reap great harvests: “the one who sows meagerly will reap meagerly, and there shall be generous harvests for the one who sows generously.” Each of us should give as we ourselves wished, and not reluctantly as if obliged: “God loves a cheerful giver.”
