[0411G] Gospel for Holy Tuesday

John 12:20-36

Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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 honor. "Now my soul is troubled. 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." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light." After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.

I love this Gospel appointed for Holy Tuesday.  We find certain Greeks who come to a couple of the disciples with the request.  They wish to see Jesus.  John does not tell us if in fact they ever get to see Jesus.

This is an important reading for us as we who are the Church are called to show Jesus both to those who seek him out and those who have no interest in seeing the Christ.  And how do we show Jesus to the world?  Jesus gives us the answer.  We lift high the cross as the sign of life in the midst of death, as Moses lifted up the serpent on the pole in the midst of those who were in need of healing.  The world is in need of healing.  Some know this; others are blind to it.  Jesus was lifted high upon the cross to give the healing that is needed.  The Church lifts high the cross that the world might continue to gaze upon him who is the Lord of Life and life as he lives.

The Rev’d Father Timothy Alleman, Rector

+   The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross  +  Wilkes-Barre   +