--- title: Unless a Grain of Wheat description: Unless a Grain of Wheat --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/02/23/unless-a-grain-of-wheat#) # Unless a Grain of Wheat Feb 23, 2012 9:00:19 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) *Editor's note: We are participating in these reflections as a part of an effort organized by [Chris Weigand](http://www.weigandchris.com/). There are a number of different writers participating and sharing reflections, and we'll be posting them each week here at CatholicMom.com. We all hope and pray that you will share your own stories with us and be part of this great adventure.* By [Chris Weigand](http://www.weigandchris.com/) During this season of [Lent](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/lent) I hope to travel this journey with you, to be the catalyst that brings you and me out of the drawer and into God’s glorious light. Seven talented [writer](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/writer)s through the grace of God have agreed to share this journey with us: Sarah  Reinhard, Elizabeth Weidner, Joe Wetterling, Margaret Realy, Jennifer Fitz, Karina Fabian, Steven Lumbert, and myself as we make this Lenten journey to Golgotha and beyond. [![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stockxpertcom_id124163_jpg_f977e141aa5ad91111908e7d4d5a6bcf1-300x300-160x160.jpg?width=160&height=160&name=stockxpertcom_id124163_jpg_f977e141aa5ad91111908e7d4d5a6bcf1-300x300-160x160.jpg "stockxpertcom_id124163_jpg_f977e141aa5ad91111908e7d4d5a6bcf1-300x300")](http://catholicmom.com/2012/02/23/unless-a-grain-of-wheat/stockxpertcom_id124163_jpg_f977e141aa5ad91111908e7d4d5a6bcf1-300x300/) *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. (John 12:24, NAB)* Every year I buy seed packets. Some I manage to get planted. Others remain in the drawer or cabinet. Funny thing about those [seeds](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/seeds), even though I have the best of intentions, those [seeds](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/seeds) in the deep dark recesses of the drawer, never grow, never bear fruit. Those pretty flowers and yummy vegetables shown on the front of the package never see reality or achieve their full potential. As I sat in Ash Wednesday service, we sang the hymn *Unless a Grain of Wheat* by Bernadette Farrell. The opening line is similar to this verse spoken by [Jesus](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/jesus) and recorded by John. It struck me that we followers of [God](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/god) are like the grain of wheat, like the [seeds](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/seeds) in the drawer. If we don’t fall to the ground and tie to ourselves we can never be what [God](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/god) wants us to be, plans for us to be. I remember taking a trip to Yellowstone Park several years ago. It wasn’t long after the devastating forest [fire](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/fire)s swept through destroying much of the forest. Recently I took a trip to Mt. St. Helens and saw the destruction caused by the erupting[volcano](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/volcano). Two points have stuck with me from those visits. First, in spite of the death and destruction there was new life, rebirth. A new beauty that would not have been revealed if not for those incidents. Second, buried beneath the original beauty were seeds that if not for the [fire](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/fire) or[volcano](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/volcano) would have never grown. The [fire](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/fire) and [volcano](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/volcano) served as the [catalyst](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/catalyst)necessary to bring these seeds new life. The season of [Lent](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/lent) provides us with the opportunity to prepare ourselves, to be that seed that falls to the ground, that is buried deep in our hearts waiting for the [catalyst](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/catalyst). Sacrifice, prayer, contemplation of God and His Word provide our [catalyst](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/catalyst). Then on Easter Sunday we can bear the fruit of the Resurrection of [Jesus](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/jesus) and a new us is revealed. **Questions to ponder:** - This [Lent](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/lent) what seeds can I take from the drawer and what catalyst can I use to join[Jesus](http://www.weigandchris.com/http:/tag/jesus) at the empty tomb? - Can I use this catalyst to help someone else on their journey with Christ? *If we have died with him we shall also live with him (2 Timothy 2:11, NAB)* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F02%2F23%2Funless-a-grain-of-wheat%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F02%2F23%2Funless-a-grain-of-wheat%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F02%2F23%2Funless-a-grain-of-wheat%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Unless%20a%20Grain%20of%20Wheat) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F02%2F23%2Funless-a-grain-of-wheat%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2012%2F02%2F23%2Funless-a-grain-of-wheat%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Silent Saints Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/11/21/silent-saints/) [ Take Up a Cross Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/03/21/take-up-a-cross) [ Byz-y Mama: Great Lent Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/02/11/byz-y-mama-great-lent) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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