THE SEED MUST DIE
First Reading
A reading from the book of Sirach 2:1-9
If you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation. Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be hasty in time of calamity. Cleave to him and do not depart, that you may be honoured at the end of your life.
Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in him, and he will help you, make your ways straight and hope in him.
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fail. You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not fail; you who fear the Lord, hope for good things for everlasting joy and mercy.
The Word of the Lord.
Second Reading
A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans 6:3-4.8-11
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 12:23-27
Jesus said:
‘The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.
‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit.
‘He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also, if any one serves me, the Father will honour him.
‘Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour?” No, for this purpose I have come to this hour.’
The Gospel of the Lord.