Conforming to the Will of the Father

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today explore covenant love, obedience and life that come from death to self.

John 12:20-33 Lost In a Life of Love https://t.co/dcdeU85yuu pic.twitter.com/7xmjMDMO3K

— jbrantley (@johnbrantley) March 18, 2018

The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah describes a Covenant written in human hearts.

* [31:31–34] The new covenant is an occasional prophetic theme, beginning with Hosea. According to Jeremiah, (a) it lasts forever; (b) its law (torah) is written in human hearts; (c) it gives everyone true knowledge of God, making additional instruction (torah) unnecessary. The Dead Sea Scroll community claimed they were partners in a “new covenant.” The New Testament presents the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as inaugurating a new covenant open to anyone who professes faith in Jesus the Christ. Cf. Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; Heb 8:8–12. Know the LORD: cf. note on 22:15–16.

The Letter to the Hebrews emphasizes the obedience of Jesus to the will of the Father that taught Jesus about human suffering.

* [5:6–8] The author of Hebrews is the only New Testament writer to cite Ps 110:4, here and in Heb 7:17, 21, to show that Jesus has been called by God to his role as priest. Heb 5:7–8 deal with his ability to sympathize with sinners, because of his own experience of the trials and weakness of human nature, especially fear of death. In his present exalted state, weakness is foreign to him, but he understands what we suffer because of his previous earthly experience.

The Gospel from John presents how Jesus will become accessible to all in the mystery of His death.

* [12:24] This verse implies that through his death Jesus will be accessible to all. It remains just a grain of wheat: this saying is found in the synoptic triple and double traditions (Mk 8:35; Mt 16:25; Lk 9:24; Mt 10:39; Lk 17:33). John adds the phrases (Jn 12:25) in this world and for eternal life.

Steve Scholer asks if Jesus’ focus may have been on the process it takes to produce the fruit and compares it to the commitment a gardener must make.

During our Lenten renewal, are we willing to be like garden seeds and risk being split apart so that we can renew ourselves and grow into a life rich with abundance to share with others? Are we willing to dedicate ourselves to growing our faith and our relationship with Christ so that we may become the Christians God wants us to be? Equally as important, are we willing to let the world’s greatest gardener nurture us, not by sun and water, but by His never-ending love and his promise to us each and every day?

Don Schwager describes the process of death to the “old fallen self” as a daily ongoing cycle of growth in which the Holy Spirit buries us more deeply into Jesus' death to sin so we might rise anew in the power of God's love, righteousness (moral goodness), and holiness.

How can I practically "die" to myself so that the Lord Jesus can live in me and transform me into his likeness and holiness? It certainly means that what is contrary to God's will must be "put to death" within me. God gives us grace to say "yes" to his will and the strength we need to reject whatever is contrary to his commands and plan for our lives. The Lord Jesus promises that we will bear much "fruit" for him, if we choose to deny ourselves for his sake and embrace his will for our lives

Friar Jude Winkler notes Jeremiah taught that Israel would receive a new covenant written on their hearts. Jesus becoming perfect in Hebrews is a code word for Jesus becoming our high priest through His suffering and obedience. The hour of Jesus death will lead to His glorification as the Father calls Jesus to the cross which He embraces.

Suzanne Guthrie quotes Jean Vanier from his work on “Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John “ and some other spiritual leaders in a contemplation exercise on "But If It Dies..."

The grain of wheat must die in order to bear much fruit:fruits of unity and universal peace.Jesus is speaking of his own death,and he is also speaking for each one of us.We, too, are called to die to selfishnessin order to bear fruit and be messengers of peace:we are called to die to some things that may be good in themselvesbut that hinder us on our path towards unity, peaceand greater openness in the Spirit of Jesus. …

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, refers to John Duns Scotus (1266-1308), Gerard Manley Hopkins and Thomas Merton as he describes contemplation as to look at reality with a primary gaze of love. Non dual consciousness is learning how to be present to what is right in front of me, to the Now, exactly as it is, without splitting or dividing it, without judgment, analysis, or resistance.

In other words, our mind, heart, soul, and senses are open and receptive to the moment, just as it is. This allows us to say, “Just this,” and love things in themselves, as themselves, and by themselves, regardless of how they benefit or make demands on us.

The action of God in opening hearts in our tradition to a New Covenant, becoming human to know our suffering, and proclaiming freedom and love to all in the Glory of the Cross is approached in a contemplative manner that emphasizes living this moment in obedience and a desire to be conformed to the will of the Father.

References

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n.d.). Jeremiah, chapter 31 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah31:3331

(n.d.). Hebrews, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/5

(n.d.). John, chapter 12 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/12

(n.d.). Creighton Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). At the Edge of the Enclosure. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/