Fifth Sunday of Lent
John 12, 20-33
Most of us when we were children may have tried to figure out what would happen if we put a seed in a glass of water. At first, it seems nothing is happening, then maybe after a few days, the outer shell of the seed begins to crack, then slowly a little green sprout springs out of the seed until a little bud form and a green leaf slowly unravels.
The gospel for today tells us of what will happen to Jesus in the near future. Like a grain of wheat, unless it dies through its separation from the stalk and it is planted in the ground it remains a grain of wheat. However, once it is buried on the ground, it will sprout as another plant, ready to bring fruit of many grains of wheat.
Jesus knew that if he wanted to save humanity from sin, he had to make the ultimate sacrifice which was his death on the cross. Jesus knew that for him to be resurrected from the dead and be glorified by the Father, he had to die and be buried so that he could rise on the third day.
We have a saying, “no pain, no gain” and for Michelangelo to be able to make his masterpiece painting of the Creation on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, it took him four years of painting it lying on his back on a scaffold all the time, his hand stretching out to paint with pieces of paint sometimes falling into his eye while doing it. It was even told that he fell off the scaffold several times in the process. And yet, after everything, millions of people have admired this piece of genius from a man who admitted publicly that he was not a painter.
Have you ever wondered who are the happiest people in the world? Of course, it’s natural for us to qualify this question in terms of happiness. There are people who find happiness when they do their favourite activities. There are people who find happiness when their favourite footy team wins. There are people who find happiness when they go and dine at their favourite restaurant. But really, who are the happiest people in the world?
Ironically, it seems that the happiest people in the world are people who are not looking for their own happiness. Probably the happiest people in the world are those who have sacrificed their own happiness in order to make others happy. For example, parents who have sacrificed to work overtime in order that their children would have a good education. A religious sister who has left her country to serve in an orphanage in Africa. A retired woman who volunteers herself to manage a Vinnies shop during weekdays.
The gospel for today tells us, “Whoever loves life loses it.” How many people out there are trying to pursue happiness by doing everything to enjoy their lives on earth. And sometimes to disastrous consequences. The happiest people are those who are more worried about the happiness of others than their own happiness. And Jesus gave us the ultimate example. He gave his own life so what we might be able to live.
As we come closer to Holy Week, it is a good time to examine ourselves, and ask what really makes us happy? Do we engage in selfish behaviour just to fulfil our worldly happiness? Or are we made happy by making other people happy - by giving up our time, talent and resources?
Jesus gave up his life in order for us to have life so maybe it’s about time for us to give some of our lives to people who need them most and with God’s providence we will be able to be truly happy not only externally but more importantly, spiritually.