Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Reflection for May 19, Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter: John 16:20-23


Gospel: John 16:20-23
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. 

So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

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Reflection:

Are you afraid to go through suffering/s? We all are, as much as possible we don’t want sufferings in our life. What we want is a suffering free life but a suffering free life is not a possibility for believers and followers of Jesus. For without sufferings we would not be able to intensely feel the abiding presence of Jesus in our lives. 

Jesus will help us conquer our sufferings for as long as we steadfastly hold on to Him. For example, we are all suffering right now one way or another and we carry this suffering silently. But in spite of this suffering that we are going through we continue to hold tightly to our faith in Jesus. And through our steadfast faith in Jesus we somehow are able to carry this suffering. 

In our gospel for this Friday, Jesus tells His disciples: You will weep and mourn (John 16:20). Jesus told them this for His hour of arrest, passion and death would soon come. Yet they will be joyful and triumphant after a period of time. Joy and triumph that nobody can take away from them. Joy and triumph which are brought about by Jesus resurrection and triumph over death. 

What is important in life is we continue to steadfastly hold on to Jesus no matter how severe the trials/sufferings that we may face. For there surely be triumph over our trials/sufferings if we remain unwavering in our faith in the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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