Read – reflect – respond (in prayer, silence, possibly a comment)
Lectio Divina – sacred reading
John 12:20-26
Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, 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. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
We are all Greeks. We approach the love of God as strangers, as aliens, as outsiders. Jesus opened His arms on the cross so as to embrace us all, bearing our sufferings and offering Himself to the Father so that we might be saved. Where once a stranger stood now stands a miracle; a son, an alien no more. Thank you Jesus.