Daily Gospel Reflection for August 10, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Feast of St. Lawrence - John 12:24-26

So many times Jesus’ words seem contradictory. Death produces fruit, if you love your life you lose it, being a servant will bring honor. What does He mean? Why can’t He speak plainly?

I’m not going to pretend that I know just why Jesus uses these analogies, but I will say I think it’s because He wants us to pause and ponder, instead of nodding and saying, “Yes, yes, go on, I get it.” 

Death is a surrender. Whether we are surrendering our life on this earth or the daily letting go of our will, our need to be right, our carefully laid out plans for our children, or how we’ll use that unexpected time or money. When we surrender, which is a small death of ourselves, we grow. It may not be fun or easy and at the time we may dislike it immensely, but at some point we look back and think, “Oh, yes, it was good, very good that I surrendered.”

Surrender can be looked at as giving up. Surrender to God, surrendering to life-bringing death, instead means giving in to something bigger and better. It means fulfilling our purpose in this life. Just as the grain of wheat that dies produces much fruit, we do the same when we die to ourselves. The death leads to new life. And isn’t that why Jesus came?

Ponder:

What do I need to die to in order to being forth more abundant fruit in my life?

Pray:

Father, help and guide me to know and do Your will always. Amen.

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When we surrender, which is a small death of ourselves, we grow. #dailygospel

Copyright 2021 Deanna Bartalini