Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 16, 5-11
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Now I am going to the one who sent me,
and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.
But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.
For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.
But if I go, I will send him to you.
And when he comes he will convict the world
in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:
sin, because they do not believe in me;
righteousness, because I am going to the Father
and you will no longer see me;
condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”
The strength of the Spirit
1. Grief. We all suffer grief at some point in our life, but it means that there will be a change. It is one thing to go through a period of sadness and quite a different one to live in sadness. It’s not the same thing. Sadness is also a sign of mourning, it’s part of accepting that something has died, that something is gone; accepting that you have lost something or someone. To live in sorrow is different. It means that your life revolves around what you’ve lost or are losing. Your whole life is based on that person who is no longer there or on that company that went bankrupt or on that situation you’re going through. Your whole life has become a sad life because you don’t want to let go of what you’ve lost, because you don’t want to accept that you have lost something or someone.
2. It is better for you that I go. To win you have to know how to lose, you must accept that there are things and people that are no longer there. We’re all afraid to let go, because we get used to situations and people because there are people we want next to us our whole life. But we forget that life itself is dynamic. We must understand that God has something new and different in store for us. Jesus leaves to come back; He comes in the Holy Spirit. So, let go of that person that you keep depending on, let go of that situation that is still going round in your head and discover that when you put everything in God’s hands there’s a change, there’s something fresh for your life. Don’t live in the past. Have the courage to live new things and let yourself be surprised by God. Because you can’t control life and that will always scare you, but to live life you need to be brave and have great faith in your heart.
3. Justice. You will always be attacked, judged, and even slandered. I think this is one of the points that hurts me the most, when people criticize or attack me lightly, as if they knew everything about my life and my efforts. And I imagine that it must hurt you too. But today, I propose that we look at the One who will always put himself on the line for you: God. And remember that the Holy Spirit, who is in you, protects and guides you. Don’t be afraid of all those who attack and discredit you; let yourself be guided by the grace the Holy Spirit gives you. Take courage, God does not leave you alone. Think of Saint Luigi Orione, a priest who was attacked a lot, but who constantly listened to the Holy Spirit. Don Orione, would say: “A Hail Mary and go ahead”. So, come on! Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
