Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12:24-26
Jesus said “Very 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. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
The process of letting go to win.
1. ‘If I don’t die, I remain alone.’ I could say that today we’ll be talking about the process of a narcissistic person – one who likes to have all the spotlights pointed at him. That person always likes to show off, he likes to shine, and he wants to be above others. He always wants to have the final word. It is the person who likes to have everything and not lose anything; he’s only interested in being full and he doesn’t want to feel that he’s short of something. He hates to feel some sort of need. It’s that kind of person who only wants things for himself and is so selfish that only looks to himself. But deep down, even if he shows off, he’s lonely and empty.
2. ‘Being ‘alone.’ When you don’t learn to take risks for what you love, for what you want, for what you feel, when you don’t go “all in” to life, you end up being left alone. I’m thinking of that person who, for fear of married life or priesthood, stays with his parents their entire life, because he feels comfortable in his parents’ house. I’m thinking of that person who doesn’t live up to the adventure of life; he doesn’t take risks to live his life to the fullest. But because of this, he ends up being left alone. Life demands risks. It’s learning to let go and learning to try. I understand that you might feel fear, but it’s something that sooner or later you have to face. We go through different stages in life and at every stage there is a test, and you have to overcome it. If you are alone (in the sense of negative loneliness) – and forgive me for saying so, we might disagree on this – if you are alone today, it is because you want to be, or because it is the effect of your fear of not letting go. If you complain of being alone, don’t blame God for everything.
3. ‘Honor.’ Today, God shows you that if your life is based on serving, you will never be alone. A person who has a positive vision of life and serves others will never be alone. There’s something divine inside you that allows you to fight and confront your fears. I call that faith: faith in God, but also faith in yourself. Believe in yourself, come back to yourself and let go of everything you’re not. It’s letting go to win. Take care of your integrity and your honor. Your honor is to keep your feet on the ground knowing who you are and that what is around you does not change you. The circumstances of life, whatever they are, do not control you, but, rather, by knowing who you are, you can change what is around you. Come on! Take the plunge! Jump in at the deep end! I assure you that you will be able to swim!
May God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. …and do not forget: Heaven is Our Goal!
