The readings for this Sunday are those of the Fifth Sunday in Lent:

• Jeremiah 31. 31-34

• Psalm 51. 1-12

• Hebrews 5. 5-10

• John 12. 20-33

You might like to use the link below to find the above readings, and click on any of the reading above that you wish to use: http://www.katapi.org.uk/CommonWorship/CWLectionarySelV.php

Collect of the day

Let us first spend a few moments in silence to centre ourselves,
to gather ourselves in our souls,
to come before the Lord just as we are with our joys and sorrows,
our hopes and our fears, our loves and our pains.
Let us just focus our minds and hearts on Jesus
who is the answer for every problem.
Let us pray that the Spirit will work through our lives
to bring Christ to the world.

Silence is kept

Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory
and ponder the mysteries of his passion,
that we may know eternal peace
through the shedding of our Saviour’s blood,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Prayer before the Sermon

Loving Heavenly Father,
we thank you
for the words you have given us today.
We know they are words of life and salvation.
Open our hearts Father,
touch our souls,
help us to respond to your word
and know that you are indeed our Lord and Saviour.
May we experience in our hearts
your love and your presence always.

Amen.

A homily based on the readings of today is given below:

“The seed sown is the seed that sprouts …”

Lord touch my heart and my lips that I may worthily proclaim your word.

I am making a short reflection based on the gospel passage of John chapter 12 verses 20 to 33. I would however like to focus our thoughts on the key verse: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a simple grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12. 24)

Jesus is here using the example of a simple seed, whichever that be, to teach us a great lesson for our lives. Probably he also wishes to give us a message about his own death and resurrection. Like the seed that falls into the soil and dies and sprouts into a new plant, Jesus will die on the cross and be buried in a tomb and will sprout, so to say, as our risen Lord and Saviour! That is what we will celebrate at Easter.

The seed found in the Egyptian pyramid…

BBC 2 ran a programme few years ago about the pyramids of Egypt. In the midst of the archaeological excavations a story is told about a particular pyramid in Egypt. It refers to an astonishing archaeological discovery. A seed! They found a single seed embedded within the said tomb. The discovery was phenomenal!

The seed looked in perfect condition after all those years in the tomb! Smitten with a curious resolve to find whether the seed was still in its integrity, they thought the best thing to do was to try it out under the soil. Bury it! Sow it! It was taken out and put under the soil, namely sowed in the ground. And miracle of miracles! Lo and behold, after about 3000 years remaining sterile within the tomb in the pyramid, the seed sprouted, put out leaves… and then geradually went on to become a plant!

After about 3000 years lying embedded in the tomb! A true wonder, a miracle! It was a BBC programme. So we could as well trust that the story is not just the fruit of someone’s wild imagination but actually it is based on verified archaeological facts!

The creative potential of a seed…

The seed by itself is of no avail. It may stay as it is for a long time in the right climatic conditions as it happened to the seed in the pyramid in Egypt. But falling on to the earth, or sowing it in fresh soil, is like death and burial for the seed and the fresh new life that sprouts out of it gives us also an idea of a  new life or resurrection after death!

Let us see these words of Jesus in two ways to make them relevant for our lives:

1. The life that each one of us has is a “seed.” What do we do with it? Are we selfish and keep it for ourselves (and so sterile!) or do we surrender the seed of our lives to God? As Jesus says: “Those who love their life will lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (verse 25) Like a seed buried or sown in the soil, when we surrender our lives to God, God is able to make us sprout and become transformed and have a new life.
2. The seed that falls into the earth reminds us of the death of Jesus and the seed sprouting reminds us of his rising from the dead.

Was Jesus telling this example of the seed to remind us of his forthcoming passion, death and resurrection? Was he giving us an idea, a teaching, of what resurrection is all about? That we too buried in death will, like a seed sown under the soil, will sprout to a new life, that is a risen, resurrected life?

Death and resurrection of a seed…

The seed teaches us of life, the mystery of life. Our life is like a seed. It is a gift. But how do we use this gift? Do we keep it for our own needs only? Remember the seed in the pyramid staying sterile for 3000 years or so! The seed that is our life also reminds us of the need to die to our selfishness, our egoism, our pride etc. and sprout into persons renewed and transformed as real Christians.

“Amazing Grace…”

The seed is a parable of the mystery of life and God’s grace in our lives. The words of Jesus are clear: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a simple grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12. 24) 

We all have heard and sung the beautiful hymn “Amazing Grace..” No matter how big our failings or sins are, God’s love and his mercy is mightier still. This is what is most heartening about our Christian faith – we have a God who gives us hope even in our darkest depths of hopelessness and despair.

John Newton, the slave trader turned hymn writer and preacher, discovered that. It is said that John Newton and William Wilberforce the great British politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade, underwent conversion experiences that radically changed and transformed their lives and also transformed the Britain of their day. It was like death and resurrection experiences for them. A complete “right-about-turn” in their lives! Wilberforce and John Newton knew in their lives how “amazing” God’s grace, indeed, is.

Saint Paul too had that mighty conversion experience on the road to Damascus and he knew personally the magnificent and soul-filling experience of God’s grace. He wrote: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” (Philippians 3.10)

Conclusion: Meeting Jesus through surrender of life…

We heard also in the gospel of today how some Greeks came to Philip and said to him: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” (John 12.21) Jesus in answer responds with the words in verse: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a simple grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12. 24) 

To meet Jesus and to follow him requires of us the type of faith to surrender our lives to Jesus. Like the seed sown in the soil! He also says in verse 26: “Whoever serves me must follow me and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the father will honour.”

Following Jesus! This is what the word of God is reminding us today. Following Jesus requires of us to accept him, know him and love him! The seed that is sown in complete surrender of faith in the act of following Jesus as Lord and Saviour sprouts to new life and transforms your life forever!

Pause to pray …

A further Prayer you can say now:

Lord Jesus,
I believe you are the Son of God.
Thank you for becoming one of us.
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.
Thank you for rising from the dead
to give me hope and the gift of eternal life.

I repent of my sins
and invite you into heart and life
as my Lord and Saviour.
Please grant me your Holy Spirit
so that I may know you, love you
and follow you every day of my life.

Amen.

[Revd Dr ST Mattapally, Rector, Springline Parish, Diocese of Lincoln]