Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 16, 16-20
Jesus said to his disciples:”A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me. “So some of his disciples said to one another,”What does this mean that he is saying to us,’A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks? We do not know what he means.”Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them,”Are you discussing with one another what I said,’A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”
Your grief will become joy
1. You will see me. The joy that Jesus shows here doesn’t stem from a feeling, but rather it’s the Christian experience. It’s the joy of knowing that you’ve endured hard times and have come through. Today think how many things you’ve experienced and you’re still here! Obviously you must have other worries but look at how many battles you have already won! Look back on your life history, what you acquired from your parents and your family. Look at yourself today, don’t dwell on the difficult time that you’re going through. Look at the whole picture of your life and everything you’ve lived, look at what you’ve found and what you’ve acquired for your life.
2. The mystery. This time we’re living includes the Cross, Resurrection, the promise of the Second Coming, Christ’s presence and receiving the Holy Spirit. In your life you will go through these stages before you die. But you will live each step freely because they are part of the path in all Christians’ life.
3. Sadness and joy. A few days back, I was telling you that sadness occurs in the face of grief, that sadness cannot be shortened, but it can be prolonged. A person who is not able to let go of the past or a fantasy suffers a condition we call melancholy. On the other hand, joy is knowing that you’re willing to lose in order to gain, that you’re capable of making a sacrifice in your life in order to gain what is good for you and fills you with peace. Today, Jesus proposes that you determine a sort of discipline in your life, so that you may walk in the direction of what is good for you, what fulfils you and satisfies you.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
