Bearing much Fruit - September 18
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96; Job 42:1-17; Acts 16:16-24; John 12:20-26
“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
This isn’t an announcement, maybe I am even hoping that too many of you don’t read it so that you can be surprised when you get a letter from me. Last night, our Vestry voted to sponsor and build a house through Habitat for Humanity in memory of our parishioner Barbarann Becket-Gaines who died earlier this year. This project will take place next year. Most of us called Barlbarann, BA. She saw her Christian community as her family and her generosity will impact Saint Stephen’s forever and it will impact how we care for others forever.
As I read the Gospel this morning I am struck by the motif of death and resurrection and its implications to the life of Saint Stephen’s. We read this reading in multiple ways. Death to sin or death to our ego can certainly help us bear much fruit and find life. I thought the Rev. Sally Herring captured this beautifully in her sermon on Recovery Sunday sharing insights from Richard Rohr and I am paraphrasing, that all of us are addicted to something, many of us to controlling our lives as opposed to surrendering to God. In this example, our ego needs to die for us to authentically and faithfully live a life that bears fruit.
However, BA’s story shows something else – our decisions in our lives can have eternal consequences and thanks be to God. A single grain can bear much fruit in the world. Death and resurrection is a cycle of growth and renewal. We should all consider not only how we bear fruit today, but tomorrow as well. I give thanks for our friend and sister BA and I hope her legacy inspires us all.
Faithfully,
John
Questions for Self-Reflection: Where in your life do you bear fruit? Is there something that needs to die in order for you to be able to live more fully? Have you considered your legacy?