Reflection
Jesus uses the image of a grain of wheat to show that the end of life is not truly the end. Throughout our lives, we touch many people, and the love we give continues to live on even after we are gone. When a seed is buried, it appears lost, yet that apparent loss becomes the very condition for new growth and fruitfulness. In verse 25, Jesus moves from metaphor to personal challenge, reminding us that how we live matters. If we focus only on ourselves and cling too tightly to our own lives, we ultimately live life without deep meaning. Instead, when we learn to place love for others above self-interest, we discover a life that reaches beyond ourselves and leads to lasting, even eternal, significance.
Prayer
Loving God, teach us to let go of self-centred living. Give us courage to surrender what we cling to, trusting that to love freely bears true fruit. Shape our lives so that, in serving others, we find deeper meaning and ever lasting life. Amen.
Philip Niem
