By Victor Cancino, S.J. | America Magazine

A few weeks ago, a parish in Missoula, Mont., participated in a Lenten retreat. The theme for their reflection was taken from the first chapter of John: “What are you looking for?” (1:38). One person remarked that the experience of praying with the Gospel of John for nine days was like listening to a beautiful love song to our Lord. This is a helpful description to begin to see what the fourth Evangelist is trying to communicate to his audience and to the world. If the Gospel of John is crafted like a beautiful love song, then today’s Gospel passage from John 12 can be understood as a crescendo moment in that music.