The Grain of Wheat that Falls to the Ground

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-11-02


耶穌開口向他們說:「人子要受光榮的時辰到了。我實實在在告訴你們:一粒麥子如果不落在地裡死了,仍只是一粒;如果死了,纔結出許多子粒來。愛惜自己性命的,必要喪失性命;在現世憎恨自己性命的,必要保存性命入於永生。誰若事奉我,就當跟隨我;如此,我在那裡,我的僕人也要在那裡;誰若事奉我,我父必要尊重他。」
若望福音 12:23-26

在今天的福音中,耶穌用了一粒麥子來自喻。要結出子粒,麥子一定要先落在地裡死了。耶穌用說這個大自然的比喻是要令當時的人明白,種子必需被埋在泥土裡死了,才能結出新生命。基督以此指向自己必需受難,死而埋葬,第三日從死者中復活。

耶穌說:「愛惜自己性命的,必要喪失性命;在現世憎恨自己性命的,必要保存性命入於永生。」如果我們要得到耶穌帶給我們的新生命,我們必需棄絕舊我。藉著聖洗聖事,並不斷在每天棄絕罪惡,我們才能在基督內成為一個新人。

今天是追思已亡節,教會在十一月二日特別紀念一切已亡的基督徒。讓我們在煉靈月多為亡者的靈魂祈禱。


Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.
John 12:23-26

In today's Gospel, Jesus told a parable of the grain of wheat. In order for a grain of wheat to produce fruits, it must fall to the ground and die. Jesus told this parable about the nature of seeds to help people understand. Seeds cannot produce new life by themselves. They must first be planted in the earth before they can product fruits. Jesus use this parable to refer to Himself, that He must first go through crucifixion, buried, before He rose from the dead on the third day.

Jesus said: "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life." If we are to experience the new life that Jesus brought us, our old self must be buried. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, and a daily abandonment of sin, we become a new man in Christ.

It is All Souls' Day today. It is a solemn feast of the Catholic Church commemorating all of those who have died and now are in Purgatory. Let us remember to pray for the souls in purgatory throughout the month of November.

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