“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.” (JN 12: 24)

Death, which “produces much fruit,” and a gift of self, which offers love, are on the same page. Through his death Jesus is accessible to all and a giver of self Who will live forever. When we are concerned about how to be more a free, creative and joyful gift of self, we can recall “a grain of wheat [who] falls to the ground and dies”—and “produces much fruit.”

“Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” (MT 18: 3-5) 

The child is held up as a model for the disciples not because of any supposed innocence of children but because of their complete dependence on, and trust in, their parents. So must the disciples be, in respect to God. Every parent knows how children’s dependence on and trust in him/her motivates them to do everything for their children. How much more God will do for us—His children.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year, that is, of King Jehoiachin’s exile, The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.—There the hand of the LORD came upon me.” (EZ 1: 1-3) 

“On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year, …in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar”—how precisely the Bible informs us about the exact time and place. It shows us how important is the word of the Lord. Every day we receive God’s word. The exact time and place for us could be different, but the same dignity and importance of God’s word answers our needs.

“God has called you through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (LK 12: 32-34)

Those who recognize their complete dependence on God, not on material possessions, are chosen ones. Their hearts are protected by God, and they will find “treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.” That kind of dependence could be difficult for us, so Our Lord also takes care of this—“do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” From our side we give trust and dependence; from Him come all the benefits, like fathers do for their children.

“Stay awake and be ready! For you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.” (LK 9: 28-29)

The “mountain” is the regular place of prayer in Luke’s Gospel. This time Our Lord didn’t go alone, but He “took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray.” We also can ask Jesus to take us “up a mountain to pray.” Prayer in its essence is a unique time with Him in front of the Father, listening to Him.

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“See, upon the mountains there advances the bearer of good news,  announcing peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah, fulfill your vows!” (NA 2: 1) 

Too often we can meet the opposite—the bearer of bad news—rumors, gossip or whispers about others; “the bearer of good news, announcing peace” is something absolutely different. “Announcing peace” brings hope and joy, makes us happy and causes us to expect all the best from the future, but not losing contact with reality, though the manner is not always as we expect. We can expect good because we are God’s children, and He takes the best care of us—like the “persecuted for the sake of righteousness,” who finally won the Kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.” (JER 31: 34) 

One of the most heartfelt dreams for so many of us is that “their friends and relatives will know the LORD,” especially for parents seeing their children not practicing their faith or friends far away from God. We should remember that this is not only our concern—God will take care of them: “no longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives how to know the Lord.” The most important part of it is: “I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more;” a gift given to His Church as the Sacrament of Penance.

“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel; Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers.” (JER 31: 3-4)

This is the right perspective for all kinds of love—between spouses, between parents and children, between friends—“with age-old love.” Our love needs time to grow, to learn, and to mature. To grow—because this is always something we can improve; to learn—because it is a relationship and we can learn from each other how to love better (or more perfectly); and to mature—because love is first of all a gift of self and the more we give, the more we understand how amazing it is being loved with the age-old love of God.

“A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.” (MT 14: 22-23) 

Jesus’ identity determined His actions, prayer and activities–as Son of God, who came to bring God’s love to us. His activity was not primarily to do something for someone (like feeding the hungry crowd or praying to God), but was to be with them (to listen to them and to answer to their needs). He was with people, and “his heart was moved with pity for them,” and He was with His Father “to pray.” What He does is based on who He is—“You are the Son of God”.

“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.” (MT 14: 14)

Jesus was and is always a total and sincere gift of self, looking for anybody in need. He came to serve and bring the beauty of God’s love to us. “When he saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.” He also will take care of hunger and any other human need—all seven acts of mercy.

“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”