Daily Gospel
READING OF THE DAY
A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians
2 COR 9:6-10
Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to John
JN 12:24-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
Wednesday of 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
(John 12:24-26)
The Word of God for Us
Dear People of God,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples that the grain of wheat must die and rot before it can bear much fruit. It’s true, and it must happen.
God uses the image of a grain of wheat that dies and rots to tell how the disciples’ lives must die like a grain of wheat to bear much fruit, it means that, to save many souls. Jesus further admonished: Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will save it; that is, whoever loses his life for God’s sake, God will give him back eternal life. Only God is the source of life, except Him, no one can create life.
God’s Word today teaches everyone to live and practice according to God’s instructions: Must know to sacrifice ourselves, dare to give up our own desires, dare to die for all sins, passions, self-attachements to fully live and serve God. That is the model of those who follow God, will always be with Him, serve Him, and follow His Love commands. When we follow God’s commands, we will bear much fruit, will have eternal life, that is, be with God forever.
In the days of the apostles and martyrs, their deaths proved that they were the grains of wheat that died and rotted for the love of God. Today, God also invites His apostles: Be like grains of wheat that die for God’s work, die for all your egos, our own ideas, your passions, your desires, self-attatchements to fully obey and live according to God’s instructions so that you can bear much fruit. Which is to save souls to God; and this enables you to live happily with Him, to be blessed by Him, and to be rewarded eternal life.
God invites His apostles to go forth and live according to the example of the ancient Patriarchs: to live faithfully for serving God with full trust and confidence, and to dedicate one’s soul and body to God so that God can use each person according to His Will.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
