Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues telling the disciples about His pending departure, but also about His return, hinting at the resurrection to follow.
At the Last Supper, Jesus tells the Apostles that their grief will become joy. This is a law of Christian life. We will share in the passion and sufferings of Jesus and will rise with him to glory. We are persecuted for our faith, yet we are consoled and comforted by the presence of God. Our comfort comes not from what happens to us each day. It is rooted in our faith for the future, when we will be with Jesus again in heaven.
We live by faith, which is the beginning of the joy of the eternal vision of God. We live by hope, which looks beyond the sufferings we endure in this passing world, confident in Jesus’ promise of eternal life. Most of all, we live according to love, Divine Love, knowing it alone lasts beyond the grave.
To exemplify the turning of grief into joy, Jesus uses an allegory of a woman in labor. “The hour of Christ’s Passion is compared to the pangs of childbirth. The disciples, like a woman in labor, will experience extreme distress that soon gives way to joy when Christ is reborn to a new life on Easter morning” (ref: Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 1920). The image of a woman in labor can be connected to Mary. In John’s Gospel, Mary is the model disciple, “who exemplifies this sorrow turning to joy more than anyone else. As the mother of Jesus, she experiences the sorrow over the loss of him like no other…” (ref: Sri, Walking with Mary, 137).
Jesus was doing His best to increase the disciples’ faith, knowing that they would need the help of the Holy Spirit to endure the pain and suffering that would come before and after His resurrection. We too, given that same Holy Spirit to guide us, are called to increase our faith in Jesus’ promise of eternal joy. His resurrection is certainly the hope we need, knowing that He calls us to spend eternity with Him. While faith and hope must sustain us through the times of trial and suffering in our lives, it is our loving response to His Divine Love that becomes the daily source of energy to help us persevere on our earthly pilgrimage back to Him. Is our love as strong as a pregnant mother about to give birth to her child?
Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
What can I do to increase my faith, hope and love for the One who gives us His Divine Love?
Source for today’s reflection: https://epriest.com/reflections/view/3079