First Reading (2Cor 9,6-10)
Reading of the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, without regret or compulsion, for God “loves a cheerful giver.” God is able to bless you abundantly, so that you may always have what you need in all things and have plenty to spare for every good work, as it is written: “He has scattered abroad his wealth and given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and will give him bread for food will himself multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (John 12,24-26)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, let him follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, my Father will honor him.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine holding a tiny seed in your hand. So small, so seemingly insignificant. Yet within it lies incredible potential—the potential to become a majestic tree, a field of waving wheat, or a flower of breathtaking beauty. This simple seed teaches us one of the most profound lessons of the Kingdom of God, a lesson that is at the heart of today’s readings.
St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, reminds us, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” What a powerful truth! But before we rush to interpret it only in material terms, let’s delve deeper into its spiritual meaning.
Think for a moment: What are you sowing in your life? What kind of seeds do you sow daily in your relationships, in your work, in your community? Are they seeds of kindness, patience, compassion? Or are they seeds of bitterness, selfishness, indifference?
Paul is not giving us a magic formula for financial prosperity. He is inviting us to a life of radical generosity, a generosity that reflects the very heart of God.
Remember, God is the ultimate sower. He has sown the universe with stars, the earth with abundant life, and our hearts with the potential for divine love. And His most generous seed? His own Son, Jesus Christ, the divine seed planted in the soil of humanity.
And this is where today’s Gospel beautifully intertwines with Paul’s words. Jesus tells us, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.” What an extraordinary paradox! Death as the path to life, loss as the path to gain.
Imagine a farmer who refuses to plant his seeds because he doesn’t want to “lose” them. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Yet how often do we hold on to our own “seeds”—our time, our talents, our resources—for fear that we will lose them if we “plant” them?
Jesus is calling us to a life of courageous self-surrender. He is not glorifying suffering for the sake of suffering, but showing us that the true flowering of life comes when we are willing to “die” to our selfishness, our petty ambitions, our limiting fears.
Think of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who willingly took the place of a family man condemned to death in Auschwitz. His act of self-sacrifice not only saved one life, but inspired millions over the decades. He was the grain of wheat that fell to the ground and died, producing an abundant fruit of hope and love in one of the darkest places in human history.
Or consider Mother Teresa, who “died” to a life of comfort and prestige to serve the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. Their lives of self-giving produced such abundant fruit that they continue to feed the hungry and inspire hearts to this day.
These saints show us what it means to live by Jesus’ words: “Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” This is not a literal hatred of life, but a willingness to place love for God and neighbor above our own desires and comforts.
But let’s return to the image of sowing. Paul assures us, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that, always having enough in everything, you may have plenty for every good work.” What a wonderful promise!
God does not call us to generosity so that we may be left empty. He is a God of abundance, not scarcity. When we sow generously—whether it be our time, our love, or our resources—God promises to supply all our needs and empower us to give even more generously.
He is like a spring that never runs dry. The more water flows from it, the fresher and more abundant it becomes. Likewise, the more generous we are, the more we experience God’s generosity in our own lives.
But be careful: This does not mean that we will always be rewarded in the ways we expect or desire. The “bountiful harvest” can come in surprising ways—deep inner peace, richer relationships, a deeper sense of purpose, a joy that transcends circumstances.
Jesus reminds us, “If anyone serves me, let him follow me.” Following Christ means embracing His way of sacrificial love. It means being willing to be that seed that falls to the ground and dies so that new life can sprout.
This may seem daunting. After all, who likes the idea of “dying,” even metaphorically? But remember: the seed does not remain dead. It transforms, rises again, multiplies. In the same way, when we die to our selfishness, we rise again in the fullness of Christ’s love.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, I challenge you today: be generous sowers! Sow seeds of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Do not be afraid to “lose” your life for the love of Christ and others. For it is precisely in this surrender that we will find life in its fullest and most abundant form.
Ask yourself: What “seeds” can I plant this week? Perhaps it is an act of forgiveness for someone who has hurt you. Or taking time to visit a lonely neighbor. Or using your talents to serve in your community. Every small act of love is a seed planted in the Kingdom of God.
And always remember: you do not sow alone. God himself, the Divine Gardener, works alongside you. He prepares the soil of our hearts, waters it with His grace, and makes it grow beyond our wildest imagination.
May we, as Paul says, be “enriched in every way for all generosity.” May our lives be fertile fields where God’s love can flourish abundantly. And may we, at the end of our journey, present to God a rich harvest—not of selfish achievements, but of lives touched, hearts transformed, and love multiplied.
May the Lord of the harvest abundantly bless the seeds you plant today and always. May He make each of us a grain of wheat willing to fall into the ground and die, so that we may bear much fruit for His glory.
Go in peace, and may God bless you. Amen.
