https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060524.cfm
Die a Little, Gain a Lot
Georgie and Charlie were neighbors when I was a small child. I hung out with them. Their homegrown sweet corn on the cob got my attention right off the bat. I found it fascinating how they took some seeds and planted them in rows in the ground.
Slowly but surely, there was the sprout, the stock, and the corn on the stock. It amazed me how that tiny seed became ears of corn. Trying to understand resurrection with our human minds is like imagining what an ear of corn looks like by only looking at the seed and never seeing the ear of corn.
The Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection poked fun at Jesus by asking a silly question. If a woman marries seven men, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? Their difficulty in believing in the resurrection stems from putting themselves before God.
When we put ourselves before God, we have questions like, will our hair be the same color in the resurrection? Will we be healthy and in our prime? What will we look like? What will our bodies be like in the resurrection? Will we have pot bellies?
Think of someone who has yet to see seeds, not the fully grown stock of corn. A total transformation occurs between the colorless, lifeless seed and the stock-bearing corn.
Think about the Consecration on the altar in the Holy Mass. We know we consume Jesus’s Body and Blood, but more, Jesus transforms us into Himself. As we surrender ourselves to Jesus, he penetrates all our thoughts, emotions, desires, wills, and memories. He transforms them from tiny little seeds—human beings—into beautiful flowers for God—other Christs.
Gospel Challenge:
The seed dies and is buried with Jesus, only to rise with Him. Dying a little more daily so that others may live brings deep and lasting joy to our hearts, and Jesus is our joy. His joy is our strength in moments we experience another person’s suffering. Do not be afraid. Jesus is with us.
Peace to all of you.
Love your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
