A grain of wheat

By
The Revd Dr William Lamb

Jean Vanier died last week. In 1964, Vanier became aware of the plight of thousands of people with learning and developmental difficulties living in institutions. He invited two men, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to leave the institutions where they resided and to live with him. Others came to join them. From the beginning, the characteristic of this household was that it was a community - those with disabilities and their carers lived together and learned from one another. The network grew. L’Arche eventually became an international federation dedicated to the creation and growth of a network of homes devoted to the support of people living with intellectual or learning disabilities.  

Over the years, Jean Vanier wrote many books and told many stories about his experiences. No-one could doubt his profound Christian faith, but at the same time, his faith was always characterised by a willingness to embrace the other and to see the face of Christ in the stranger. Here is one of his reflections on John 12.14: ‘If a grain of wheat that falls to the ground does not die, it remains alone. However, if it dies, it bears much fruit’.

’These words are very strong! Jesus is surely speaking about his own death. The mystery of Jesus is a mystery of weakness. From his wounded heart will flow blood and water. He will give life. There at the cross he will give us the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. But he has to die. This text does not only refer to Jesus, but it speaks also to each of us, teaching us that to the extent that we wish to protect our ego, our power, and our sense of being greater than others, we will remain alone. To give life, to work for unity and peace, there are things within us that must die. If we accept this death, then there is something even deeper within each of us, like what is hidden in the little grain of wheat, that will open as a powerful source of love and fruitfulness. When a grain of wheat falls into fertile soil, life will spring forth from it - perhaps forty, perhaps a hundred, other grains of wheat.’