The time has come, John’s gospel says, for Jesus to be glorified, revealed to the world. Paradoxically, this glory will be gained through suffering. Jesus will be exalted when he is nailed to a cross. As with a grain of wheat, his death will be the beginning of life. We too must be willing to sacrifice everything if we want to follow Jesus. Such a decision is not easy, as it was not easy for Christ. John alludes to the agony in the garden, while the letter to the Hebrews describes Jesus’ prayer. Like ourselves, Jesus was made perfect through obedience, consecrated and made holy through suffering. This is how he expressed his loving solidarity with each of us. How much that perfect gift of love cost-for the cross is not an abstract truth. In fear, pain and obedience Jesus sealed with his own blood the new covenant God had promised his people through Jeremiah. Hearts will change once we know God intimately, and God will forgive and forget our sin. The sign of God’s new covenant of love is Jesus stretched out on the cross.
(Sunday Mass Book)
