Tuesday in Holy Week: Grain of Wheat

The mystery of life beyond darkness

Tuesday in Holy Week unfolds with Jesus’ somewhat enigmatic reflections upon his approaching death. This section of John’s gospel often reminds me of a wise spiritual director I once had — she never would answer a direct question. Instead, she’d offer more questions in response to questions and drew word pictures as answers.

There’s a koan-like quality to the passage of the day.

However cryptic Jesus’ words, the section centers on a frightening prospect for him and his friends — he is going away, he may die, and they will be left alone. Jesus is trying to prepare them, offering spiritual insight for what is coming, and comforts them. It seems particularly moving to me that after Jesus speaks to these concerns, he withdraws and hides from his followers. The final part of John 12 (not included in today’s reading) says that his followers refused to believe what he’d taught — and he prayed with such urgency and feeling that he cried out in pain: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me.”

He’s exhausted before the rest of the week’s ordeal begins.

Indeed, this is passion. The passion of God.

I find two short selections from today’s reading particularly compelling:

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.

For your reflection today: Below you’ll find a hymn, the gospel reading, a photograph, two poems, and a prayer — all inspired by a grain of wheat and walking into the darkness to get to the light.

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Now The Green Blade Riseth, Mar 29, 2013, from BBC Songs Of Praise.

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John 12:20-36

Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say — `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light."

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

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Meditation is old and honorable, so why should I
not sit, every morning of my life, on the hillside,
looking into the shining world? Because, properly
attended to, delight, as well as havoc, is suggestion.
Can one be passionate about the just, the
ideal, the sublime, and the holy, and yet commit
to no labor in its cause? I don’t think so.

All summations have a beginning, all effect has a
story, all kindness begins with the sown seed.
Thought buds toward radiance. The gospel of
light is the crossroads of — indolence, or action.

Be ignited, or be gone.

— Mary Oliver

The seed that met water spoke a little name.

(Great sunflowers were lording the air that day;
this was before Jesus, before Rome; that other air
was readying our hundreds of years to say things
that rain has beat down on over broken stones
and heaped behind us in many slag lands.)

Quiet in the earth a drop of water came,
and the little seed spoke: "Sequoia is my name."

— William Stafford

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PRAYER

Lord, you make a gift of death
to bring us to new life:
free us from our need
to fix and own your name
so we may look for the day
when you are lifted high
and all are drawn
into the arms of love;
through Jesus Christ, the passion of God.
Amen.
— Steven Shakespeare, “Prayers for an Inclusive Church”

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