Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Jn 16: 20-23
May 19, 2023 | Friday

Today’s Gospel

Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. A woman in childbirth is in distress because her time is at hand. But after the child is born, she no longer remembers her suffering because of her great joy: a human being is born into the world. You feel sorrowful now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice; and no one will take your joy from you. When that day comes you will not ask me anything. Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

In today’s reading, Jesus warns His disciples that difficult days will come for them. There will be times when they will weep, mourn, and grieve. There also will
be times when their grief will be transformed into joy. To help His disciples understand His message, Jesus uses the image of a woman who is in labor with her child. Yes, the labor is difficult, and the pain is excruciating; however, when her child comes forth from the womb, there is no greater joy. A new life has come into the
world! A tremendous gift was born from all that pain!

Jesus wants His disciples to know and believe that after the difficult days of His crucifixion and death, new life will come forth for them. Jesus also wants us to
know and believe that after our difficult days, we also will experience new life. Once again, we will see Him and experience His presence with us. We will be able to rejoice when Jesus gifts us with new life and hope. It is not our challenge to trust and be watchful and attentive to His coming. This often is easier said than done. Often the journey to new life is long, barren, and arduous. If we truly trust Jesus, however, we will stay on the journey with Him despite the difficulty and the pain. /Vulnerasti, 2023