Finding By Losing

Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Tuesday in Holy Week

David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key verses for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

24Very 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. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 956)

AM Psalm 6, 12; PM Psalm 94

Jer. 15:10-21; Phil. 3:15-21; John 12:20-26

David's Reflections

The Gospels tell us almost nothing about most members of the twelve who originally followed Jesus.  John's Gospel is the only one to record any incidents regarding Philip.  In today's Gospel, some Gentiles approach Philip in Jerusalem at the Feast of Passover with a request to see Jesus.  They may have been acquaintances of his from his hometown of Bethsaida (John 1:44), because Bethsaida was located in Gentile territory.

The word "see" may mean "to visit with," but for John the word "see" carries connotations of believing.  To see Jesus is to believe in him.  For this Gospel, these Gentiles approaching Jesus on the verge of faith symbolize the entire world.    The Gospel story in John is transitioning in this chapter toward Jesus' final days in Jerusalem, his suffering and death.  For John’s Gospel, the approach of the Gentiles signals the arrival of Jesus’ "hour," the hour of his death and the worldwide appeal of his saving work.

Jesus speaks of his death as being "glorified," a rather stark reversal of the horror of crucifixion, which was an excruciating and humiliating way to die.  In John, Jesus' death is glorification because it achieves the ultimate revelation of God as saving love and it brings eternal life to those who believe.  One can only view the cross in this way in retrospect.

Jesus compares his death to the fate of a wheat seed.  The seed "dies," it ceases to have independent existence, but that death produces a wheat stalk with many more seed in the heads of grain.  God will be glorified by Jesus' death because through Jesus' suffering many, like those Gentiles who approached Philip, will be brought to salvation and eternal life.  As Jesus says in this chapter, his death will draw all people. You and I are among those drawn to faith in him.

Jesus calls on us to follow him.  As Jesus lost himself in death for the world, we are called to follow him, to lose ourselves as well.  Through the Spirit of Christ, we are to label as in need of death all self-interested behavior that preserves us from risk or rejection as disciples.  We are to let ourselves go into the mission of Christ in the world, being bold to share our witness, giving ourselves, giving our resources--stretching ourselves that others might live.  In short, we are to be willing as was Jesus to lose ourselves even in death.

As Nathan Mitchell put it, “The Christian call to embrace the cross as Jesus did is . . . a call to surrender ever more of one's life to God;  to abandon every illusory project of control and self-justification;  to allow oneself, in loving trusting faith, to be taken over by Another.”* Ironically, . it is in losing ourselves in commitment that we find our true selves—God’s children realizing our real identity through commitment.

If the prospect of losing yourself like a wheat seed makes you nervous, it should.  It made Jesus nervous, as we shall see later in the week. It makes me nervous. Our hearts tremble at the thought of being embarrassed or rejected, which makes sharing our witness feel like a mountain we can't climb. And our hearts tremble at the prospect of letting go, of relinquishing control. I take comfort in this text in knowing that whatever Jesus calls me to do he will enable me to live into, or else he would not call on me to do it.  So, if I am called to lose myself in his service, perhaps my response is "Yes, Lord, I want to obey you, but this frightens me.  Show me the way."

Philip sought to introduce some people to Jesus, people who already had a spiritual hunger.  That feels very much like the role we are called to play. It’s like introducing people we know to a dear friend. But we only do so if the person we want to introduce shows an interest in matters spiritual and opens the door. Phillip responded to the initiative of the seekers. We can take a clue from that. Note that Philip did not hesitate. So, when someone initiates a conversation about spiritual matters, or in some other way reveals spiritual hunger, we can model after Phillip and respond creatively. Think ahead about what you would say in that moment. Prepare before the moment strikes.s

*Nathan D. Mitchell, Eucharist as Sacrament of Initiation,  (Chicago:  Liturgy Training Publications, 1994), p. 36.

Collect of the Day, Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 219)

Collect for Tuesday of Holy Week

O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life:  Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(BCP, 220)

A Collect for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (BCP, 99)

For Young Persons

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 829)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:  Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (BCP, 100)

Daily Office Gospel, John 12:20-26

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very 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. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer