“Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”

I, and many other people, wish to see Jesus because life is not easy and there are many questions in our hearts. “Father, why this thing in my life? Why do I have to face this situation?” Myself, I have several questions for Jesus…We want to see Jesus.

A GRAIN of wheat and Jesus, crucified, or better lifted up from the earth are the two images used by Him as an answer to us.

Nobody likes to die. We are terrorized by death: we experience it when we are affected by one serious disease. We do not have other solutions than to appeal to God and to adhere to Him with all our strength. Please God heal me. There are situations where we experience psychological diseases. We feel powerless and being controlled by other forces. We hang on to Him and we hope that he will heal us.
Looking at death with the eyes of faith, we believe that "life is not taken away but transformed". We carry within us a seed of life that contains much more energy than it appears. But he possesses it when he gives it. The decision of “dying” like the grain to bring fruit, is realized when we are willing to offer our words, commitment, and effort for a greater goodness. These are the situations when we wish for a change in our families, and in society. Sometimes it requires putting ourselves in danger because, breaking down some habits or some processes that are not according to the will of God, can produce a violent reaction to evil forces. We need courage to die, to join Jesus in his journey, but the purpose is to be with him in bringing new life, justice, freedom, communion, care, and reconciliation.

The second image is the Cross. Last Sunday we were invited to look at the cross, the sign offered to us by Jesus to show His love for each one of us and the whole world. This Sunday once again it is offered to us this symbol of love, but from that cross, Jesus, the one who wins the death, “will draw everyone” to himself. What is the meaning of this? Our Founder Saint Guido Maria Conforti has a beautiful explanation addressing the young fathers leaving for missionary countries:
“Today the Lord is clearly telling you what he wants you to do, and he shows the field he is entrusting to your labor. Your mission and your plan of action are beautifully summed up in the crucifix that I have just given to you, and which you in a rapture of holy joy have placed upon your heart. It seems to me that he is saying to you from this adorable image the same words he spoke two thousand years ago to the apostles and the crowds as proof of his divine mission: When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all men to myself. These words sum up the goal of his mission and the secret of his victories. The mission of Christ is your mission, the secret of his victories must also be the secret of your success; the cross, the sacrifice of yourselves. Christ wants to draw all peoples to himself because he wants to reign in every mind with his heavenly doctrine and in every heart with his love. You are called to gather the people around the throne of his cross.”
Christ's strong desire is to reign, to dwell in every mind and heart. The Cross is the sign through which Christ reaches each one of us.