Reading
John 16:16-20
16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
Comment
Jesus refers to his ascension ("you will see me no more") and to the descent of the Holy Spirit ("you will see me") because the Spirit will make the Risen One present in the hearts of the disciples.
The same event that will bring the world to rejoice and the disciples, deprived of the physical presence of Jesus, to become sad, will turn into joy because it will involve the gift of the Spirit, whose continuous assistance will be ensured to the community of believers.
That restlessness of the disciples of remaining "clinging" to Christ, the diligent search for the meaning of his words (v. 18), and the humble desire to question him (v. 19), become in us, by virtue of the Spirit, anticipated participation in his mystery, the first fruits of future things.
Grace gives us the ability to transform sadness into joy, to fill the void of meaning, of beauty, of goodness, of a world immersed in the darkness of ignorance and wickedness, which rejoices under the illusion of having "cut off" his Savior. But the severed branch becomes an occasion for grafting of our life in Christ, from which we can draw the lymph of eternal life. "a little while" and we will be one with him.
Prayer
Assure your presence, o Lord, in the hearts of believers; so that comforted and enlightened by your Spirit they can bring joy where there is sadness, peace where there is restlessness; to the praise of your glory. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
