Today's Gospel: John 16:16-20

“Lord, how long?” I don’t know about you but there are times in my life when I have thought these words in prayer. In desperation as I have cried out in heartbreak and grief, I have wondered what it would be like to have a giant billboard or an electronic sign like in Bruce Almighty answer my questions. But then, it would probably have to actually hit me over the head for me to “see” or truly “hear”.

In today’s Gospel, the blessed disciples actually heard the voice of the Lord answering the question, “Lord, how long?” It was so powerfully important that Jesus said “a little while” four times, with John including these words seven times in today’s Gospel. Why were these words included? I must believe they have significance even for us today. The disciples were in a state of utter bewilderment. Jesus is leaving and all is a puzzle yet in “a little while grief will turn to joy”? They have been given the pieces of the puzzle and are straining to fit it together as their minds are unable to comprehend the mystery that is about to unfold. Jesus beholds these men He loved. He heard their questions just as He does mine. He loves these men so very much that He is preparing them for the suffering and the cross that lie ahead, knowing that it is not the end of the story.

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Ponder:

As we approach the end of this Easter season, are there areas of your life where you wait for your grief to turn to joy?

Pray:

Lord of all hopefulness, I pray to wait “a little while” trusting you will lead me to unexpected joy. Padre Pio, pray for us.

 

Copyright 2017 Catherine Schipper

Catherine Schipper is a wife and speech therapist working with multiply-handicapped preschoolers. She loves the power of words and the beauty they represent. There is nothing like hearing a child say its first words. She feels greatly blessed to be called to a ministry of writing. She is on a journey of dreaming big God-sized dreams.

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