The Simple Gospel

By: Brenda Wieneke

First Reading

2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Brothers and sisters:

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:

He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.

The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Gospel

John 12:24-26

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.”

Reflection

Life has not begun unless it is lived out of the purpose it was made for. Until then, it floats around not living out of its purpose. It lives a life without meaning. It lives a life without the true meaning of life, especially the abundant life we were created to live, a life without spark, and a life without a heavenly spark, and most importantly, a life apart from its maker.

When life is lived not flowing from its true identity, it produces not much fruit. When life is lived out of its true identity, it produces fruit that not only sustains its own life, but fruit that sustains the life of others. Its fruit brings life to others. The fruits of the Spirit flow unto those that eat from it. Others can freely come with joy, knowing that they will be fed food that not only nourishes, but food that is filling for the soul. When our fruit is being nourished by its true source, Christ, its fruits are a visible sign of nourishment to those that eat from it.

Two images that I get when praying with both passages:

The Tree: Birds, insects, and other animals come to its branches to find rest.

The Flower and its Nectar: Bees feed on the nectar of a flower. When fed, the bee leaves feeling full because it has been fed well from that nectar. From that food, it leaves and produces honey, and that honey is then used for food and also to create soap and many other things.

The products produced from honey are used by millions of people all over the world. We humans have come back to the honey due to the reliability of its sweetness, what we can make from it, and how it has benefited us time and time again. What is produced by bees has been used for thousands of years and continues to be used as I write because we have tasted and seen the goodness that comes from it. We come back time and time again because we know of its importance.

Bees go back to flowers because the flowers continually produce good nectar for them to feed on. Both bees and humans go back to their source because of what it produces, and we know that it is good. Both have allowed themselves to truly live out of their identity and the reason why they were created. They have allowed themselves to fall to the ground and die to themselves, and through that death, they are able to produce fruit or food that many can use.

A good tree knows the importance of its roots, and it knows it can produce no good fruit unless it is being cared for by its source. The Lord will supply the seed to the sower and bread for food, and will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Let us go back to the One who nourishes, plants, and increases our harvest of righteousness. A life well lived is a life to rejoice in!