By Father Andrew Kelly
The gathered believing community is like the Greeks in Sunday’s Gospel (John 12:20-33): “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” “To see” means to believe Jesus’ words and deeds reveal God’s infinite power and love.
Through Jesus’ word, body and blood, the community begins “to see” when Jesus says: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
The community is spiraled deep into reflection about the implications of “seeing” Jesus. As Jesus does, so the community does:
“…I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain …Those who love their life lose it …for eternal life … and where I am, there will my servant be also …”
Just as Jesus’ soul is troubled, so is the community’s: “And what should I say — ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”
Jesus’ prayer becomes the community’s prayer: “Father, glorify your name.”
Every Sunday, through word, body and blood, the prayer is answered: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” The desire “to see” Jesus is fulfilled.
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
