We are entering Passiontide and the Church reflects ever more deeply on the significance of the presence of Jesus in Jerusalem. Jesus calls into ever closer friendship with him. Lent is a great time to deepen our love of him. In the Gospel Jesus goes up to the Festival of Passover and meets some Greeks through the agency of Philip and Andrew – in fact the Greeks ask to see him. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah that all nations will honour the Lord in Jerusalem. People all over the world will participate actively in salvation history by worshipping the Triune God in Spirit and in Truth. It points therefore to the beginning of the Church’s worldwide mission. Jesus said to them: “Now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified…unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if dies it yields a rich harvest” Jesus is pointing to his death and resurrection and harvest 1t w1ll reap. He then goes on to say: “Anyone who. loves life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the life eternal.”

We must ponder what this life is that we gain when we are prepared to lose our life in this world. We practice Should enlite little tee teal bear o lit it Christ. We can practice reaching out to others, even if in very small way, now. It is not about what we are doing for God. Rather, it is about our response to what God is doing for us. It is never too late to turn back to God and ask him to enable us to love him and our fellow human beings more.

Now we are seeing warmer and sunnier days. This might encourage us to ask ourselves the question: “How do I thank God for the gift of life today through taking extra time in prayer, meditation or reflection on Scripture?”

Yours in Christ,