6-May-16

Gospel JN 16:20-23
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy
that a child has been born into the world.
So you also are now in anguish.
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you.
On that day you will not question me about anything.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
Reflection:
Jesus is assuring His disciples that although they are going to experience a period of darkness and anxiety at His leaving that all their anguish will be forgotten upon His return.
He uses the example of a mother forgetting the pain connected with giving birth once her newborn infant is laid upon her breast.
This joy may also be compared to the joy experienced by a husband returning to his wife after being away at war.
"But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you."
Jesus' promise that "I will see you again" is the very Hope that enabled the disciples to contend with the agony of being separated from Him.
Our belief in Christ's resurrection and ascension to heaven is the very Hope that allows us to contend with the trials and losses in life.
Jesus goes on to tell His followers, "On that day you will not question me about anything."
When, like the disciples, we are reunited with Christ, there will be no need for questions because all things will become clear.

"For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Roman 8:24-25