Jn 12:24-26
[Jesus said to his disciples,] 24“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
Reflection:
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies. We hate failures. We dislike falling or talking about death. We want success stories. We wish to celebrate life always.
While that is true and admirable, sometimes tragedies bring out the best in us. We learn more from misfortunes and sufferings than from our successes and celebrations. Success brings out great feelings. Failure and death bear forth greater lessons and better life and fruits in the end. Natural calamities that inflict death and suffering to people often invite the best human response and care from those who have the capacity to help.
It is said God whispers in our triumphs but shouts in our trials. The cross brought out the beast possible in man but brought out the best in God.
In your personal list of birthdays and anniversaries include dates of transitions and major, difficult changes in your life story.