Will preserve it for eternal life

2Cor 9,6-10; Ps 111; Jn 12,24-26
10 AUGUST

Jesus made of his life a gift to the Father until death on the cross. For this gift the Father can gather many fruits of conversion, regeneration, sanctification and eternal life. Christ Jesus really made himself a grain of wheat for us, because he was made true bread for us, that is true body and true blood of salvation, mercy, peace and charity.

Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And I am giving counsel in this matter, for it is appropriate for you who began not only to act but to act willingly last year: complete it now, so that your eager willingness may be matched by your completion of it out of what you have. For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have; not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality your surplus at the present time should supply their needs, so that their surplus may also supply your needs, that there may be equality. As it is written: “Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less” (2Cor 8,7-15).

Consider this: 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. You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God, for the administration of this public service is not only supplying the needs of the holy ones but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. Through the evidence of this service, you are glorifying God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your contribution to them and to all others, while in prayer on your behalf they long for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2Cor 9,6-15).

If Christ has made himself a total gift to the Father, if Jesus needs to make a total gift to the Father in his body, in every member up to his Parousia, for the redemption and salvation of humanity, can one of his disciples keep his life for himself. ? If he keeps his life for himself, he does not serve Christ, he does not give everything of himself to him, in the soul, in the spirit and in the body, so that he can enlarge, guard, defend and protect the kingdom of his Father. But if a disciple does not give his life to Christ, might the Father honour him as he honoured Jesus Christ? Never. He did not give his Son his life for the building of the kingdom. He did not spend it for salvation and redemption, it is a life that does not belong to Christ and does not belong to the Father. Life is given to Christ, by giving it to the Word of the Gospel, for a perfect obedience, however, always under the motion and inspiration of the Spirit of God.

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 honour whoever serves me.

Life is given to Christ in one way: making it an instrument to manifest Christ in a real way, through soul, spirit, body, truth, light, eternal life, grace, justice, wisdom, prudence, temperance, great mercy and compassion. As Christ manifested the whole Father, so the Christian must show all Christ, always, in every moment of the day. Life is given to Christ, if the Christian thinks like Christ, lives like him and like Him he is always listening to the Spirit.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that Christ live in us today and for us in the whole world.