Friday
of the 6th Week of Easter
May 6, 2016 8:30am
and 11:00am
I love the taste of fried
chicken, with the skin on, but again, afterwards, I wish had eaten the
skinless, baked chicken.
Maybe kids today can enjoy playing
computer games instead of doing their homework, and then feeling really bad
that they didn’t do well in a test.
Maybe we’ve all enjoyed just
telling it like it is to someone, and then regretting at least how we spoke to
that person.
These are some of the things I
think of when I listen to today’s gospel.
Jesus first talks about having a
good time now, but not feeling so good about things later on.
In contrast to that, Jesus then talks
about real joy and satisfaction – long-term joy and satisfaction and maybe not
enjoyment or pleasure right now.
He uses the expression: “Your grief will become joy.”
In other words, doing the right
thing or following the way of the Lord right now may not be appealing or easy.
But in the long run, we will
experience joy – an inner peace, an inner satisfaction and fulfillment.
And this will come from keeping
the big picture of life in mind.
It will come from living
according to our calling and mission, according to who we really are as persons
made by God.
And often, it will come from some
self-denial and sacrifice in the short run, knowing that this can lead to peace
and joy in the long run.
So, a good lesson from Jesus
today in those few words: “Your grief
will become joy.”
