We will again hear from John in this week's Gospel. This past week we have mainly been reading from John's Gospel. We are hearing stories of Jesus' healing powers and him using them on the sabbath. As you know, there were strict rules as to what Jews were and weren't allowed to do on the sabbath. Both Jesus and some of the people he cured broke those rules. When asked why Jesus broke the sabbath, he responds that his Father works on the sabbath therefore he does as well.All of these works and words are leading up to Jesus' capture and eventual death. In today's Gospel, we hear Jesus again refer to his death. He tells us that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it will not produce additional fruit. In saying this, he is foretelling of his necessary death in order for us to be able to be saved and brought to him in our salvation. Jesus goes on to say that it is for this purpose that he has come to this hour, his death on the cross. And, just like we saw in Jesus' baptism and in his Transfiguration, again, God has spoken from the heavens to reiterate what Jesus is telling us is true.
