Monday, March 23

John 12:20-26

BEARING FRUIT

. . . 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, . .

The single grain of wheat carries with it the potential to bear fruit. We carry within ourselves the potential for a full and intimate relationship with all Creation -- and with our God. When out of fear or selfishness we hold back risking ourselves in relationships we deny our potential to bear fruit and that gift from God goes unrealized.

The life -- the self -- not risked, ends in loneliness. The risk of self does not have to be as dramatic as running into a burning building to save another person. It can be the small denial of self as we venture outside our comfort zone to offer friendship to a stranger or to speak up against injustice when we might more comfortably remain silent.

If we put self first -- in the end, self is all we have.