Fifth Sunday of Lent “B”
(Cycle “B" – April 2, 2006)

Q. 365:   The metaphor of “a grain of wheat” in today’s gospel is beautiful, describing how new life comes about (Jn 12:20-33).   How can I apply it to my own life?

A. 365:   The metaphor that Jesus used has special meaning to those with “green thumbs.”   For example, my wife Patricia and I love to grow tomatoes.   During the harvest season, we save some of the seeds from the tomatoes, and put them in an air-tight container to save for planting the next season.   In fact, the seeds can be saved for years.   But they need to be planted, even though it be a few years later, in order to produce more tomatoes.

Now, connect that “seed” metaphor with another part of today’s gospel.   Jesus says, “where I am, there also will my servant be.”   Well, where is Jesus?   In his public ministry, he is out there “planting seeds” of new life – seeds of love, seeds of instruction, seeds of our call to holiness, seeds of our call to faithfulness to God, seeds of forgiveness and compassion.

“There also will my servant be.”   As followers, as disciples of Christ, we are called to the same tasks that He engaged in. We are called to plant the seeds of Christ.   This is what servants do: whatever their master wants them to do.   So Lent is a good time to “replay” your recent life: have you been keeping your “seeds of life” sealed up for some unknown future use (also known as laziness and spiritual blindness), or have you been faithful in carrying on the mission of Jesus by planting those seeds in your daily life?

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM!   An old proverb says, “it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”   It is easy to sit and complain about the world’s immorality and decadence.   But what seeds are you planting, what candle are you lighting, to help overcome this darkness and bring about new life?   We need to continue the mission of Jesus, and live through Him, with Him and in Him (CCC #787).   Mushrooms grow in the dark; Christians grow in the light of Christ and plant their seeds of new life by charity in action (CCC #1695).

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

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