Holy Tuesday

Holy Tuesday –‘Parable Day’
Today is ‘Parable Day’!
This is the first time in John’s gospel where people who are not Jews come to Jesus. They do not go to the Temple where they would likely be excluded, instead they go via Philip and in doing so they find themselves welcomed. I wonder if the Greeks from the story were to turn up to any of our churches today would they meet Jesus. Would they really encounter Jesus in the way we live out our faith? Can we make our faith a living faith? Questions for us to ponder in Holy Week.
By the way, our reflection yesterday came from ‘Stages on the Way’ todays comes from ‘Spill the Beans.’
Today’s reading is John 12: 20-36

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Reflection
For this reason:
for the sake of the poor and the forgotten, I come to this hour;
for the sake of the mothers who have lost their children, and the orphans without their mothers;
for the sake of those whose voices have been ignored and those who have never been given a voice;
for the sake of the bound up, the hungry, the thirsty, the imprisoned, the naked, the stranger, the sick, the imprisoned;
for the sake of the seed that fell on stony ground, and among the thistles, on the hard pathway, and became food for the birds;
for the sake of the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the hungry, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the poor in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for my name’s sake;
for the sake of Mary and Joanna, Elizabeth and Jairus’ daughter, for the woman with the blood flow, and Mary and Martha;
for the sake of Peter and John and Andrew and James;
for the sake of the church, and the world, and you.
For your sake.
And should I say: “Save me from this hour”?
No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.
Prayer
Lord of light, at this time of great uncertainty for ourselves, our country and our world some of us may be not be convinced that darkness is a thing of the past. Many feeling themselves to be in a world of darkness and gloom with anxiety weighing heavily on hearts and minds, perhaps even bringing feelings of loneliness and isolation. As we reflect on the events of this Holy Tuesday, may we be your light to any weighed down by such feelings through our words, sincere and encouraging and through our smiles, warm and loving that they may know your love and your presence as they face the days ahead and look to the future. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Symbolic Action
Jesus said, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you.’
Why not light a candle and reflect upon those who bring light to your life and how you might bring light to the lives of others.
Or:
If you have some readily available take the time to plant some seeds and nurture them over the coming weeks.