Sunday Gospel Reflection by Bishop Parkes: What does the word “sacrifice” mean to you? If you’re a parent, you likely know the meaning as you reflect on the sacrifices that you make for your children. You give your personal time and financial resources to take care of their needs. It seems like children are always asking for your time, your attention and for things. As they grow older, they become more independent.
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Read the Gospel reflection by Bishop Parkes below or click here to listen to it.
The Courage to Sacrifice
"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.” – John 12:24
What does the word “sacrifice” mean to you? If you’re a parent, you likely know the meaning as you reflect on the sacrifices that you make for your children. You give your personal time and financial resources to take care of their needs. It seems like children are always asking for your time, your attention and for things. As they grow older, they become more independent. They make mistakes and learn, yet you’re still there to give them a hand. You give all of yourself in order that they may become the person that God has created them to be - a good person, one that cares for and respects others as well as themselves. This is an investment of your time that will benefit them and others.
In this weekend’s Gospel from John, Jesus shares that if a grain of wheat is not planted or does not die, then it cannot produce fruit. He says, “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.” Of course, Jesus was speaking of His life when he said this. He knew that His time had come and that He would give His life on the cross for the salvation of all mankind.
This is what God did for us by sacrificing His only son, Jesus Christ, as a ransom for our sins. Jesus was both God and Man, the great mystery of our faith, and in His humanity, He experienced many of the same emotions that we experience. He was fearful, yet willing to sacrifice Himself for you and me.
It takes courage and sacrifice to live according to the Gospel in our world today. In imitation of our Lord, we are called to give of ourselves for the good of others. Pray to God today for the courage and strength to do so. And if you haven’t been to church in a while, now is a great time to come home in preparation for Easter.
El valor del sacrificio
“Yo les aseguro que si el grano de trigo, sembrado en la tierra, no muere, queda infecundo; pero si muere, producirá mucho fruto”. – Juan 12,24
¿Qué significa para ti la palabra "sacrificio"? Si eres padre o madre, probablemente conozcas el significado al reflexionar sobre los sacrificios que haces por tus hijos e hijas. Te entregas a ellos y usas tus recursos económicos para atender sus necesidades. Parece que tus niños siempre reclaman tiempo, atención y cosas de ti. A medida que crecen se vuelven más independientes. Cometen errores y aprenden, pero tú sigues ahí para darles una mano. Te entregas por completo para que lleguen a ser como Dios desea que sean: una persona buena, que cuida y respeta a los demás y a sí misma. Es una inversión de tu tiempo que les beneficiará a ellos y a los demás.
En el Evangelio de san Juan de este fin de semana Jesús enseña que si un grano de trigo no se siembra o no muere, no puede producir fruto. Jesús nos dice: “Yo les aseguro que si el grano de trigo, sembrado en la tierra, no muere, queda infecundo; pero si muere, producirá mucho fruto”. Por supuesto que Jesús se refería a su propia vida cuando dijo eso, pues sabía que su tiempo había llegado y que daría su vida en la cruz para la salvación de toda la humanidad.
Esto es lo que Dios hizo por nosotros al sacrificar a su único Hijo, Jesucristo, como rescate por nuestros pecados. Jesús era a la vez Dios y hombre, el gran misterio de nuestra fe, y en su humanidad experimentó muchas de las mismas emociones que nosotros. Tuvo miedo, pero estaba dispuesto a sacrificarse por ti y por mí.
Se necesita valor y sacrificio para vivir según el Evangelio en nuestro mundo actual. A imitación de nuestro Señor, estamos llamados a darnos a nosotros mismos por el bien de los demás. Pídele hoy a Dios el valor y la fuerza para hacerlo. Y si hace tiempo que no vas a la iglesia, ahora es un buen momento para volver a casa en preparación para la Pascua.
Reflection by:
Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes is the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. Prior to his appointment to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Parkes served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 2012-2016. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999. Before answering the call to the priesthood, Bishop Parkes worked for several years in Tampa’s banking industry.
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