Daily Reflections ...

In the gospel today we hear Jesus tell the disciples, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me”. Jesus’ words immediately fill the disciples with fear and concern. How long does He mean? And why does this have to happen? The focus of their concern is evidently on the when and why.

I am sure that both you and I can understand the focus of the disciples questioning. Throughout trials in our own life, similar to the disciples, we are always concerned about how long our pain is going to last and why we have to experience it. But when Jesus answers the troubled disciples, “your pain will turn into joy,” He ignores the whole matter of time. His answer stresses the process and the result that is certain to follow. How long it takes is not significant; the inevitable result is most important.

Jesus makes it clear that periods of sorrow are inevitable and He cannot spare us from them. In the Gospel today however, we are reminded of one of the great principles of our authentic Catholic faith, the promise of Jesus, that the very thing that causes us heartache and sorrow, He will take and turn it into joy.

by Jessica Laidler