May 04
We Produce Much Fruit
by Maryann Ziemer
To the listening crowd of people, Jesus describes
the fate of a grain of wheat: “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). From a single grain will
come many.
Jesus’listeners know what he is talking about.
They understand wheat. It’s fundamental to their
well-being. From it is made bread, the staff of
their life.
So when Jesus says that a single grain of wheat must die, essentially losing its identity as a single grain—sacrificed to make many stalks of wheat possible—they know what he means. We, too, understand that a grain must germinate, push through the earth, and, under the light and warmth of the sun, grow to become the source of many new grains.
In parable style, Jesus describes his own fate, telling the crowd that he, too, will die, sacrificed like that grain of wheat. And like the grain of wheat, his death will bear much fruit; it will give rise to many.
Talk about: Who are the “many”? Jesus’ followers are the many. We are the many. We, by Jesus’ teaching and sacrifice, live in the sight and love of God.
You
can
help your students share the joy and meaning of the season with
their families. Make copies of these weekly reflections, spanning
seven weeks of the Easter Season, and have students take them home to
share.
Click here for At Home with the Easter Season: Week One.
Click here for At Home with the Easter Season: Week Two.
Click here for At Home with the Easter Season: Week Three.
Click here for At Home with the Easter Season: Week Four.
Click here for At Home with the Easter Season: Week Five. Maryann
Ziemer is a published author with teaching experience in pre-K,
kindergarten, and seventh-grade religious education. She writes about
subjects related to health, science, and education.
Source: CATECHIST Magazine, April/May 2010
Copyright
2010, Peter Li, Inc. This article may not be reprinted or reproduced in
any form without permission, except for use with your classes or
families.
We Pray and Celebrate with Wheatby Maryann ZiemerFrom the time of the Jewish Passover meal that became Christ’s Last Supper, our rituals and prayers have been rich in references to the grain of wheat, to harvests, to bread. We express it in our communal m
Tracked: May 11, 09:50