Holy Spirit remind me that sorrow can always lead to joy ….

 
John 16: 16-20


Jesus made a point of reminding his disciples at least three times in the weeks leading up to his death to remember that death, and sorrow, and suffering do not have the last word in neither his life, nor ours.  ‘I’m going away from you, but I will come again … You will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.’ was repeatedly his message to his followers as he prepared them for the sufferings and sorrows that lay ahead of them when he would be arrested, beaten and put to death. Jesus knew then, and reminds us now, that there are times of great sorrow and suffering in our human experience this side of heaven. It is not up to us to avoid or even heal these times – that is God’s work. It is up to us to simply walk through such times, following in the footsteps of Jesus and all the saints, and find the joy in the unfolding of God’s will and the great mercy of God that wait for us around the ‘bend in the road’.  When sorrows and sufferings visit my life, will I remember to remember that ‘you will weep and mourn … but your pain will turn into joy’ ? Holy Spirit remind me that sorrow can always lead to joy.
 
May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.  (Psalm 126:5,6)
 
It looks like death… but really, it is life! 
Fr. Ronald Rohlheiser referring to the crucifixion.
 
                       
Soli ad gloriam
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