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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 16:16-20

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy” (John 16:20).

 

In this part of the Last Supper Discourses, Jesus continues to allude to His imminent death and Resurrection. But two things stand out to me; “the world rejoices” while we grieve, and how ironic it is then that we are called to be joyful when the world is grieving.

It’s hard for me to identify what I weep and mourn about that the world rejoices over. Then I consider the many laws that have been passed throughout the world in just the last year alone to further immoral and atrocious matters.

Jesus tells us that we will grieve and that our grief will become joy. It’s a statement that mirrors Lazarus’ resurrection, and Mary and Martha’s tears of sorrow turning to tears of astounded happiness. If you have experienced the sudden and unexpected death of someone very dear to you, or a sudden loss of a highly anticipated expectation (not to compare the two), you may have felt such emotional and psychological grief that you felt physical pain. In its immensity, you may have wondered if your pain could ever be replaced with anything other than more pain or fear.

In the few words that Jesus spoke right before He knew He would be arrested and killed, He validates the disciples’ impending suffering and grief, promises them that there is always hope, and that hope will eventually give way to joy. No matter what your loss, no matter how bleak the world seems, or how dark, Jesus promises us that our grief will turn to joy.

Ponder:

 

Do I believe that in Jesus my suffering and grief can become joy? Do I have hope?

 

Pray:

Dearest Jesus, You know how easily we fear and doubt. You know how hard it can be to hope. Open our hearts today to receive the virtue of hope and the fruit of joy.

Click to tweet:
No matter what your loss, no matter how bleak the world seems, or how dark, Jesus promises us that our grief will turn to joy. #dailygospel



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Copyright 2021 Sr. Nancy Usselmann, FSP

About the Author

Lindsey Mitzel

Lindsey Mitzel

Lindsey Mitzel is a nurse practitioner and mom to four littles. When not wrangling with or reading to her kids, she can usually be found doing something outdoors. She appreciates dry humor, a good pun, and strong coffee. You can read more about her at Eight and a Half Months. Lindsey also occasionally writes for Be Love Revolution's Tiny Thoughts blog.