Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”
The Lord poses a riddle to his disciples in today's gospel, "“A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.”
The Evangelists obviously thinks it's very important for it's repeated twice, and the two-word expression little while appears four times. And so we ask the Spirit, what is this little while?
It seems like a whole slew of little whiles have passed since God's incarnate appearance among us, and a lot of history. If it weren't for our sacred memory of Jesus we might not study his life and times. Even after our study and our recognition of the common humanity we share with first century citizens of the Roman empire, it's a long time ago; and much of it is alien and impenetrably distant. I've heard it said that if a contemporary scholar of the first century could visit that time for two weeks their knowledge would expand exponentially. Many mysteries would be resolved. If it were only possible....
What is this little while?
And yet the Spirit of the Lord as the disciples knew him is very near, on your lips and in your heart. Our Catholic religion presents the Lord to our astonished eyes often: "Behold the Lamb of God...!" With the eyes of faith we see his wonderful works in the sacraments first, and then in many daily signs and miracles. How many random acts of kindness demonstrate God's presence every day? And even in the worst of times? They motivate and inspire us.
The Gospel of John describes Jesus's disciples as yet-to-be-inspired. They just don't get it. The "beloved disciple" seems to have more insight; at least he doesn't ask the foolish questions we hear from others. And when he entered the empty tomb with Peter, he saw and believed. That silent disciple is you; you are gifted with faith as you hear the Gospel proclaimed.
We understand the little while as the "already not yet" of salvation. We have the first fruits of the Holy Spirit which animates and guides and encourages us daily. We experience life differently; we read the signs of the times with an alternative perspective. We know where this is going even as we remain deeply enmeshed in this time and place. Like the Son of Mary, we are earthlings; made of the same mud and breathing the same air. Even as he was born in the fullness of his time, we are children of our time; and the first century seems a very long time ago.
Because we belong to the Lord our values are different. We weep and mourn while the world rejoices; we grieve, but our grief will become joy soon and very soon, in just a little while.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.