Friday of the 6th week of Eastertide
Acts 18:9-18
Psalm 46(47):2-7
John 16:20-23
Farewells are rarely a celebration, but they can be thrilling in their own way! At their core, they are a blend of bitterness and sweetness. The bitter pang of goodbyes pulls at our hearts, while the sweetness lies in the potential of new beginnings. Just think about it—how many parents have felt that rollercoaster of emotions when leaving their child in a kindergarten classroom or waving goodbye as they set off for college? In every goodbye, there’s the promise of something extraordinary on the horizon.
Now, imagine the disciples during Jesus’ powerful farewell. The weight of grief enveloped them as they grappled with his words: “A little while, and you will no longer see me.” Confusion reigned as they wondered, “What could this mean?” But then Jesus shifted the atmosphere with a vivid analogy—the imagery of a woman in labor.
“When a woman goes through labor, she endures pain because her moment has come. Yet once her baby is born, that anguish fades, eclipsed by the overwhelming joy of bringing new life into the world” (Jn 16:21). What a striking image!
But Jesus didn’t stop there; he packed a promise into his farewell. “So, you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (Jn 16:22). Can you feel the hope weaving through his words? Jesus encouraged his disciples to hold tight to that promise! They were about to enter a time of grief, like a woman in labor, but three days later, they would encounter the incredible joy of the resurrection—a joy that would forever redefine their relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.
As the people of God, we’ve traveled through the sorrow of Good Friday, waited with anticipation through the depths of Holy Saturday, and then erupted in joy on Resurrection Sunday! But wait—there’s more! A significant farewell looms ahead: the Ascension of Christ to the Father. The Church calls us to gear up for this moment.
We are living in the end times, but there’s no room for complacency here! The fiery Holy Spirit ignited on Pentecost is here to fuel our mission. We have a world in need! There are mouths to feed, homes to shelter, bodies to clothe, hearts to comfort, and souls to connect with.
We exist in a world that is broken and turbulent, amid what might be described as “the birth pains of the Messiah.” Even as we revel in the joy of Christ’s resurrection, we eagerly await the thrilling promise of the Second Coming. We, living in these exhilarating albeit bittersweet end times, especially cling to that promise!
Happy Feast Day of St Joseph Marello
Fr Joseph Osho
