– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade (bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)
The Bishop who ordained me almost 53 years ago, whose name was Francis, said something that impacted me deeply. Actually it brought me closer to Jesus or maybe it brought Jesus closer to me. It was about Jesus’ language. He said that if we compared the language of Jesus with the language of St. Paul, it was like comparing a fourth grade student with a University professor.
Related with this side of Jesus, I had a colleague in the Seminary (who is still in ministry), who collected the nouns most used by Jesus. His name is Fr. José Pereira. He was fascinated (so was I) to realize that all the words Jesus used to teach His deepest messages were very very simple that even the most illiterate people could understand. It was like: wheat, bread, fish, water, birds, flowers, sky, trees, food and so on. Nobody needs to go to school to understand these words and what they mean.
This is what came to my mind when I was reading today’s Gospel (V Sunday of Lent B, John 12: 20-33) and found Jesus saying: «unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest». Then I found interesting that the bread I eat daily is no more than the result of a «dead grain» of «dead wheat». The same about potatoes, corn, apples, and all the food I encounter on my table. All of them are the result of a dead seed. And if by any chance the seed refuses to die it is good for nothing.
Especially during this time of Lent I need to deeply meditate about my life and if I want to be «food» and «medicine» to the world. If I want to be a follower of Jesus to build the Kingdom of the Father, I have to be like the grain of wheat. I need to die to myself and let Jesus live in me. I need to stop looking for my personal success, and become just an instrument in the hands of my favorite Carpenter called Jesus.
Love and Peace
Fr. Bernardino Andrade