Real Change always happens from inside and not from Outside

 

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

19^th Week – Monday

Gospel – John 12: 24-26

Feast of St. Lawrence the Martyr

 Real Change always happens from inside and not from Outside

 If the grain of wheat dies, it produces much fruit

 1)To produce fruit the grain goes through the changes inwardly

 In order to produce the fruit, the grain goes through a deep change with in itself. The change takes place in the following way 

•  First of all it falls to the ground 
• Secondly it breaks itself and loses its real identity 
• Thirdly the root appears
• Fourthly the shoot appears 
• Fifthly it grows into a plant and produces fruit according to its capacity 

 These are the various steps involved in the inward process of change for the sake of producing the fruit

 2)The process of inward change is very painful

•  First of all The process is very painful because the grain of wheat has to break itself. Breaking is very painful process 
•  Secondly it has to allow itself to decay, which is still difficult
• Thirdly it has to die to its original shape and size. Still very difficult
•  Fourthly it will lose its real identity and no more it will exist in the grain form. So grain loses its complete identity. Still more a difficult process 
•  Fifthly it has to fall into the mud. Difficult place to fall because it cause the grain to undergo a drastic change.

 So the above things will show us how difficult the process of inward change is.

 3)Inward change really changes the grain

 First of all inward change directly hits the the thing itself. It does not cause change outside of it. Rather it touches the core of its being 

 With inward change no grain will be able to remain at the same level. Inward change forces the grain to go through a terrible change 

 Since the change is from inside and it hits the core of its being, the change remains with the thing. It does not disappear within short time. Rather it remains with the thing for long time

 4)Once the inward change starts, the change does not stop

 Once the grain starts changing from inside, the change becomes a part of its system 

 Then it starts changing every moment of its existence. The process of change becomes continuous. It can't be stopped at any moment 

 So inward change becomes very powerful and it continues till it produces fruit. 

 Really a wonderful change 

 5)Inward change makes the Seed to produce fruit

 Inward change is not a simple change 

 It is not a change for the sake of change 

 It is a change only for the sake of producing much fruit 

 So inward change ultimately produces abundant fruit. 

 Until it produces fruit the changes will continue. That is the power of internal change 

 6)Change from outside will destroy the grain of Wheat

There is no question of change from outside. 

 Outside change is nothing but the final death of the grain and permanently losing its identity. 

 No grain will survive from outside change. Death is another name for outside change for the grain of wheat 

 So for a seed, only the inward change will make the seed to survive and produce abundant fruit

 7)Human life is similar to that of Grain of Wheat

 The logic of the grain of wheat is very much applicable to our life 

 First of all it highlights the importance of inward change. We need only inward change and not so much outside change 

 Only inward change can touch the core of human being 

 With inward change a Human being can't remain as the same person 

 Inward change is a continuous process till our death or until we produce fruit. 

 So applying the logic of the grain of seed to our life will reveal a great lesson to our life. 

 Just think about it

 God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore