Reading
John 16:29-33
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Comment
In this dialogue with the disciples, Jesus highlights the difference between believing in him as coming from God and understanding his plan of salvation, which includes the dark hour of the cross.
Although knowing in advance that his disciples will abandon him in the hour of trial, Jesus does not reject them, but instills in them trust, proclaiming his victory over the world using the simple present tense.
Faithfulness in the tribulation can only be maintained through humility. Even when we find comfort in grace we must not forget our fragility and the possibility of triumphing over temptations by trusting in Christ and not in ourselves. The question that Jesus asks his disciples enthusiastic about having known his divine nature also challenges us: "Do you now believe?".
For all of us, there comes an hour when we are unable to bear the burden. All the apostles, starting with Peter, experienced with disappointment and suffering the inability to remain faithful to the Lord. Witnessing to the truth has a price to pay that we are unable to pay on our own. But the Truth itself has redeemed us, at the price of his blood.
With Paul we can say, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Rom 8:35-37).
If we do not fear to cross with Christ, our shepherd, the dark valley of tribulation, we will reach with him that peace which consists in sharing the communion of the Son with the Father, we will be able to say with him: "I am not alone, for my Father is with me" (v. 32).
Prayer
Confirm us in the faith, o Lord, and give us the humility to understand that we cannot save ourselves alone; so that we can find in you the victory over tribulations and the peace that no one can take away from us. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
