Roots

Jesus said to his disciples: "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."  [today’s Gospel reading]

I have a bag of grass seed in my shed.  It has been there quite a while.   There has been no change – an understandable outcome considering it’s in a sealed bag.   It has not fallen to the ground where it would be watered and doused with sunshine.  

Many of us are in sealed bags, closed off from family and friends due to anger, disappointment, envy, and many other reasons some just plain foolish.  Our bags need to be opened so we will die to old behavior and grudges and sprout a new attitude and sunny dispositions.   

Better yet, like cut stems that grow roots in vases with water, we can simply cut off the old and root ourselves in Jesus.  He’s the water from which our roots draw nourishment.  

Cuttings grow new roots.  We can do the same simply by following and serving Jesus.

Deacon David Pierce