John 17:1-11 | Alfred Guillou | Arrival of the Pardon of Sainte Anne at Concarneau

John 17:1-11 I pray for those you have given me

Arrival of the Pardon of Sainte Anne at Concarneau, Painted by Alfred Guillou (1844-1926), Painted in 1887, Oil on canvas © Museum of Fine Art, Quimper Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: ‘Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you; and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him, let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him. And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do. Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me with that glory I had with you before ever the world was. I have made your name known to the men you took from the world to give me. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now at last they know that all you have given me comes indeed from you; for I have given them the teaching you gave to me, and they have truly accepted this, that I came from you, and have believed that it was you who sent me. I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they belong to you: all I have is yours and all you have is mine, and in them I am glorified. I am not in the world any longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.’ READ MORE Reflection on the Painting Isn’t this a beautiful painting! The title of this work is ‘The Arrival of the Pardon of Sainte Anne at Concarneau’. A ‘pardon’ is a typically French Breton type of pilgrimage, and is one of the most traditional demonstrations of popular Catholicism in Brittany. The origins probably date back to the conversion of the country by the Celtic monks. It is similar to the Saint Patrick’s Day parades for example. As this is a penitential ceremony / pilgrimage, an indulgence used to be granted to the participants. Hence use of the word "pardon". The painting shows the sisters bringing a statue of Saint Anne to Concarneau on the day of “pardon”, with numerous small boats and vessels navigating in procession. A gentle wind is breezing. The pastel colour tonalities add to the softness and gracefulness of the image. The Breton fishermen help the front vessel onto the beach. The tops of the masts are crosses. The same face has been used for the women in the front boat, indicating the artist used one studio model.… A lot to look at in this painting. Jesus prays to His Father today: ‘I pray for those you have given me’. Jesus prays for us to His Father, and we pray to Him, His Father... and His Blessed Mother… just as the people are praying in our painting today… by Patrick van der Vorst

Jesus' Priestly Prayer

Jesus' Priestly Prayer May 26, 2020 Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest Father Walter Schu, LC John 17:1-11a Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you." Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you and all that you have revealed for our salvation. I hope in you because of your overflowing mercy. Every single act of yours on this earth demonstrated your love for us. Your ascent into heaven before the eyes of the Apostles inspires my hope of one day joining you there. I love you and wish you to be the center of my life. Petition: Lord, help me to grow in my love for the Father and for souls. A Legacy of Prayer: The supreme hour of Jesus has come. As he anticipates his agony of self-giving love to the extreme, Christ has no thought for himself. His heart turns to its one and only love, the one for whose glory he has carried out every act of his earthly existence: his Father. But at the same time, that invincible love for his Father embraces all those whom the Father has entrusted to him. Christ leaves his followers a legacy that will remain their greatest source of confidence throughout the ages: his priestly prayer. In this, Christ teaches us how to pray. Christ prays first that his Father may be glorified by glorifying the Son. What is the supreme glory with which the life of the only Son of God will culminate? The answer is in his bloody immolation upon the cross. The Cross is True Glory: “The word ‘glory’ refers to the splendor, honor and power which belong to God” (The Navarre Bible: St. John, pg. 202). How can Christ’s humiliating death on the cross and his abandonment by his closest followers give honor to God and reveal his splendor and power? How can the cross be Christ’s supreme glory? First, it reveals a love without limits, a love that does not say, “I will go this far and no farther.” Christ’s words, “Father, forgive them,” bear witness to a love that is stronger than sin. The Resurrection, which follows the cross, testifies to a love that is stronger than death itself. Second, the cross is the fulfillment of Christ’s mission. His obedience to the Father, even to death, redeems all of mankind. Have I embraced the cross in my own life as the one way to follow Christ? Embracing the cross is the only sure path to love Christ and glorify the Father. Jesus Continues to Trust in Me: Throughout this Gospel passage, Christ’s words ring with an unshakeable confidence. Even though he will die, abandoned by his disciples, in agony and humiliating failure, Christ continues to trust. He trusts both in his Father and in those very disciples who will soon desert him. Our Lord’s trust in us as his followers must inspire within us a similar unwavering confidence in our mission to save souls, to bring others to Christ, and to transform society itself. By ourselves we can achieve nothing. But we have the assurance of Christ’s own prayers and the promise of his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will speak in the hearts of all those who Christ calls to bring closer to him. Let us pray often to our great advocate: “Holy Spirit, inspire in me what I should think, what I should say, and what I should leave unsaid, so that I may achieve the good of all my brothers and sisters, fulfill my mission, and make Christ’s kingdom triumph.” Conversation with Christ: Thank you, Lord, for loving me to the extreme of dying in unspeakable agony upon the cross. Thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit so that I can follow your path of self-giving love. Resolution: I will speak with the Holy Spirit throughout the day and offer to the Father and for souls each cross Christ sends me. Our Daily Meditation is also available with audio: CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING! FORWARD TO A FRIEND

Trust in Christ's Victory

Trust in Christ's Victory May 25, 2020 Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter Father Paul Campbell, LC John 16:29-33 The disciples said to Jesus: "Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you and all that you have revealed for our salvation. I hope in you because of your overflowing mercy. Every single act of yours on this earth demonstrated your love for us. Your ascent into heaven before the eyes of the Apostles inspires my hope of one day joining you there. I love you and wish you to be the center of my life. Petition: Lord, give me an unwavering confidence in your victory over sin and evil in my life and in the world. Jesus Knows Our Weaknesses: Jesus warns his disciples that they will all flee from him in the Garden of Gethsemane when the guards come to arrest him. He is preparing them not for their fall, but for their recovery. He never expected them to be perfect, without flaws, mistakes or shortcomings. He doesn’t expect it of us either. There have been times when we have all abandoned him to follow the selfishness of sin. We sought our own pleasure, as he sought the nails of the cross and the scourging of the lash. Where am I struggling right now? Am I wavering over a compromise with sin in my life? Ask him for the strength and light to live as his faithful friend. Trust in the Father’s Presence: Even as the disciples left him, Jesus was not alone. His Father was with him. This essential union of love in his life with his Father was the strength that carried him forward to embrace the cross. He could be calm in the midst of the storm and endure unimaginable sufferings during his passion and death. Jesus lights the way for us in the midst of our own struggles and trials in life. It is natural for us to feel isolated from everyone when we are suffering and struggling, alone in the pain and the emptiness of our life. But God is with us; he is within us. We are never alone. His Victory is My Victory: Jesus never promised his disciples an easy life. He was very clear with them that in the world they would have trouble. It is the same for us. If the world has rejected Christ, it will reject us. We can’t be surprised when opposition and difficulties come our way. It is part and parcel of following Christ and shows that we are heading in the right direction. It is hard to keep fighting, fighting the enemies within and without, but Jesus is with us. We need faith to see that he has won the victory. He has overcome sin and death and he is there at the right hand of the Father. Conversation with Christ: Jesus, it is hard to keep fighting. Sometimes it seems I make little progress. I have the same struggles and difficulties every day. I’m overwhelmed by the evil I see in the world, and it can be hard to see your victory in many places, in many families and homes. Give me the hope that I need to keep seeking your will in all things. Resolution: I will pray for those who are struggling in their faith. Our Daily Meditation is also available with audio: CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING! FORWARD TO A FRIEND

John 16:29-33 | James Doyle Penrose | Feast of Saint Bede

John 16:29-33 Feast of Saint Bede

The Last Chapter, Painted by James Doyle Penrose (1862-1932), Painted in 1902, Oil on canvas © ChristianArt His disciples said to Jesus, ‘Now you are speaking plainly and not using metaphors! Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them: ‘Do you believe at last? Listen; the time will come – in fact it has come already – when you will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world.’ READ MORE Reflection on the Painting Our painting was first seen at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1902 in London. It depicts Saint Bede, whose feast day we celebrate today, translating the Gospel of John on his deathbed. A young scribe is taking notes. Saint Bede was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, England. His most famous work Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People) gained him the title of ‘The Father of English History.’ In 1899 he was made a ‘Doctor of the Church’ by Leo XIII, a position of theological significance; he is the only native of Great Britain to achieve this designation. Ordained a priest in 702 AD, he was asked to translate the Gospel of Saint John from Greek. Even when facing death, which took place on the eve of Ascension in 735 AD, it is said by one of his scholars that he ‘spent that day joyfully’. A few hours before he died Saint Bede said: ‘It is time that I return to the One who gave me being, creating me out of nothing. The moment of my liberty is approaching’. The scribe depicted in our painting knew Saint Bede would soon depart earthly life, and said ‘Dear master, there is yet one chapter unwritten; would you be disturbed if we asked you additional questions?”  St Bede answered, “No; take your pen, and write quickly,” which the scribe did.  They worked together until his last breath. This is beautifully captured in our painting. Saint Bede looks intently driven by a willingness to complete his work. The scribe is eager to write the last words, in haste, knowing time is of the essence. As I study at the Beda College in Rome, it is a day I will pray for my fellow seminarian brothers and formation staff. Saint Bede, pray for us. by Patrick van der Vorst

John 17:1-11 | Craig from Instagram | Father, the hour has come

John 17:1-11 Father, the hour has come

Christ being Crucified, Drawing by Craig, Executed in 2020, Pencil and crayons on paper © ChristianArt After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. READ MORE Reflection on the Drawing A few weeks ago via our Christian Art account on Instagram, the artist of this drawing, Craig, contacted me. He simply pointed out this drawing which he had just finished during Holy Week in lockdown. He simply stated that drawing was his hobby. I was drawn in by the drawing, its intricacy, its beauty and detailed level of execution. When we got chatting, he told me that this was his very first drawing of Christ, as usually he draws portraits of celebrities. For a very first attempt at drawing Christ, I do think this is a pretty amazing accomplishment. Christ’s eyes, the nails, the wood texture of the cross, the blood, the Roman soldier’s sandals… The drawing illustrates beautifully what pain, torture and horrendous death Jesus went through… for all for us. Shortly before being crucified, He left us with the beautiful prayer we can read in our Gospel of today. In the face of death, He still thought of us first… The intimate prayer to His Father today is a beautiful reminder of His love for us and Christ' desire for us to be forever with Him someday… I often now look at this drawing. It has become an artwork that I will associate with this time of lockdown. The artist kindly shared with me (and I asked permission from him if I could share this with you) some personal comments as well about this work. Craig suffers from agoraphobia, a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear public places, opens spaces and people gathering. He said that the Covid-19 lockdown for him was nothing unusual, as he feels he is in permanent lockdown at home because of his condition… Drawing for him is a way to communicate to the outside world, where he is afraid to venture at times. Art as a bridge to the outside world out there; but also art as a bridge to the mystery of his own interior world, where during Holy Week he was inspired to create this beautiful artwork of Christ being crucified. by Patrick van der Vorst

We Are One Body

We Are One Body May 24, 2020 Seventh Sunday of Easter John 17:1-11a Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are." Introductory Prayer: Jesus Christ, true God and true man, my Creator and my Redeemer. I love you above all other things – even more than I love myself. Thank you for letting me live in communion with your divine life. I wish never to be separated from you. Petition: Lord, help me to work for unity within your Church. “I Pray for Them” - Christ desires unity for his people. He wants to share the love that has always existed between himself and his Father. To realize this goal, he has come into a world broken by selfish divisions. Contrary to his Father’s will, sinful men and women in this world no longer see themselves as brothers and sisters but as enemies and rivals. Christ reveals himself in their midst as the only way to the Father and the one sent to unify all peoples into the one mystery of salvation, the Church. Do I look to Christ as the source of unity between myself and others? “May They Be One Just As We Are” - The “master plan” is for all people to be united in Christ, regardless of race, gender, age, nationality, social background, politics or abilities. His focus is on “inclusion” not “diversity.” Diversity can break down unity if it emphasizes multiple points of difference. Even where a bond of oneness exists, a focus on diversity will often emphasize the lack of unity. Focusing on unity, on the other hand, builds up the Church by helping each person to discover his place within the Mystical Body of Christ. We are one body in Christ (Cf. Romans 12:5). “Keep Them in Your Name” - No one can fully participate in this union with Christ and the Father unless he accepts the invitation to be part of the one body of the Church. For us to be included, we must enter through Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. There is no other name under heaven by which we are saved. It would be a great mistake for us to want and to seek membership in his Church while adopting conflicting attitudes that keep us separated from the Father, Christ and our brothers and sisters. Do I know how to appreciate the varying gifts and talents of others? Do I offer my own gifts and talents at the service of the Church? Conversation with Christ: Lord, you know there are many divisions in my life. I have created many of these. Help me overcome them. Help me eliminate those caused by my selfishness and pride. Help me make you the cornerstone of my life. Resolution: This week, through my prayer and action, I will try to help mend broken bonds between people. Our Daily Meditation is also available with audio: CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING! FORWARD TO A FRIEND

John 16:23-28 | Josefine Allmayer | I have been telling you in metaphors

John 16:23-28   I have been telling you in metaphors

Jesus planting a vine as the Good Shepherd, Drawing by Josefine Allmayer, Executed in 1930, Paper cut, postcard © Christian Art Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask for from the Father he will grant in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete. I have been telling you all this in metaphors, the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in metaphors; but tell you about the Father in plain words. When that day comes you will ask in my name; and I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you, because the Father himself loves you for loving me and believing that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world and now I leave the world to go to the Father.’   READ MORE     Reflection on the Paper Cut Postcard Jesus uses the word ‘metaphor’ twice in toady’s reading. Yes, Jesus was teaching in parables, allegories and metaphors, all in order to communicate a broader spiritual point He wanted to make to us. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Metaphors run throughout Scripture, also in the Old Testament (for example Isaiah 64:8: ‘We are the clay, and You our potter’, where God is compared to a potter and we are the clay; or Psalm 23:1: ‘The Lord is my shepherd’, where God is compared to a shepherd, someone whose duty it is to look after His sheep). Jesus continues this tradition. Think of ‘I am the bread of life’ or ‘‘I am the Light of the world’ or ‘I am the vine; you are the branches’… we are all very familiar with these metaphors. When Jesus made these statements about Himself, using metaphors, it allowed Him to say very complex things in a fairly simple way for us to understand. For example if we look at the vine and branches metaphor, Jesus is making a whole series of points which otherwise would be very hard to explain, but by using the image of a vine as a metaphor, He paints various points: a vine and its branches implies an organic relationship; it implies growth; it implies that our faith is not static; it shows how closely linked we are to Him; how dependent we are on the roots of the vine; the oneness of us all etc… trying to tell all this without the use of a metaphor would be near impossible. After yesterday’s window with paper cut hearts, today I am showing you an image of a paper cut silhouette postcard by Austrian born artist Josefine Allmayer, who specialised in these ‘Scherenschnitte’ (literally translates into English as “scissor cuts"). Our card depicts various metaphors combined: the good shepherd, the paschal lamb, the gardener, the vine… An image I have always liked… by Patrick van der Vorst

Confidence in the Father's Love

Confidence in the Father's Love May 23, 2020 Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter Father John Doyle, LC John 16:23b-28 Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." Introductory Prayer: Lord, as I begin this prayer, I offer you my whole self: my thoughts, desires, decisions, actions, hopes, fears, weaknesses, failures and petty successes. I open my entire being to you, aware that you know everything already. I’m certain of your mercy and of the purifying power of your penetrating, loving gaze. Petition: Father, help me to confide in you. Ask and You Shall Receive: As a child I was often bashful to the extreme when dealing with strangers. I remember once my dad asked me to leave a food package at the rectory office as a contribution to the parish food drive for the poor. I was scared stiff. Finally, after I got up the courage, I rang the doorbell, dropped the box and ran. At times we can feel the same apprehension and uncertainty before prayer. We are not sure if God will take kindly to “being disturbed” in his care for the universe to listen to our request. Ultimately, we need to remember how much God likes to be asked and to trust that, if what we are asking for is for our good or that of another, God will certainly grant it. God’s Self-Revelation: Language is a vehicle of communication, and like every means of expressing ideas, it is limited. Speech, however, is really pushed to its limits when it tries to express realities about which humans have no clear conceptualizations. God’s power, his awesome majesty and his very being are far beyond our limited scope of comprehension. Jesus, as true God and true man, becomes the bridge between our human language and God, whom he knows intimately. Jesus uses the most adequate expressions possible for God –– such as Father ––, but he also reminds us that he is speaking in figures. One day he promises to tell us clearly and even introduce us to him. Is this my greatest hope? Would I be ready right now to be introduced to God the Father? “The Father Himself Loves You” - Our Holy Father, Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI, reminds us of the Father’s love: “True, no one has ever seen God as he is. And yet God is not totally invisible to us; he does not remain completely inaccessible. God loved us first, says the Letter of St John, and this love of God has appeared in our midst. He has become visible in as much as he ‘has sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him’ (1 John 4:9). God has made himself visible: in Jesus we are able to see the Father (cf. John 14:9). Indeed, God is visible in a number of ways. In the love-story recounted by the Bible, he comes towards us, he seeks to win our hearts, all the way to the Last Supper, to the piercing of his heart on the cross, to his appearances after the Resurrection and to the great deeds by which, through the activity of the apostles, he guided the nascent Church along its path” (Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est [God Is Love], December 25, 2005). Conversation with Christ: Jesus, you have revealed the immense love the Father has for all people by the ultimate self-giving of your life. Help me never to doubt your love for me. Help me to respond to your love though fidelity to your will and the practice of exquisite charity. Resolution: I will say a decade of the rosary for missionaries who are preaching God’s love to others. Our Daily Meditation is also available with audio: CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING! FORWARD TO A FRIEND

John 16:20-23 | A Window Display | Your hearts will be full of joy

John 16:20-23   Your hearts will be full of joy

Window of Rainbow Hearts, Crafted by  by Josephine and Nora, Executed in 2020, Cut our paper on glass © Christian Art Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. A woman in childbirth suffers, because her time has come; but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering in her joy that a man has been born into the world. So it is with you: you are sad now, but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you. When that day comes, you will not ask me any questions.   READ MORE     Reflection on the Home Window Display Millions of people worldwide are currently practicing social distancing and are under stay-at-home orders by their local governments in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This has led to a flurry of lovely, homemade, self-crafted window displays, all leaving a strong message of hope. I am sharing with you an image here of a window made by two young sisters, Josephine, 5, and Nora, 2, living in Michigan, USA. Their mother said she wanted to "bring love and joy to essential workers" in their neighbourhood. So it is with us at the moment with the pandemic, that we may be somewhat sad now to be in lockdown, but soon our hearts will be full of joy again when we can all meet again. As per today’s Gospel reading: So it is with you: you are sad now, but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy. With kids being at home, it is great to see their own artistic creativity flow. By simply grabbing pencils, crayons, paint, glue, glitter, scissors, the sparks of imagination and inspiration in children to create their own little artworks can flourish. When reading biographies of artists over the years, nearly all the artists refer to their childhood and how they already, from a very young age, started to paint, draw and create. The need to create and the joy of creating was instilled in them from a young age… Who knows, our two girls Josephine and Nora, might be future artistic stars… But for now, we simply enjoy and delight in their beautiful window display. by Patrick van der Vorst

On Grieving and Rejoicing

On Grieving and Rejoicing May 22, 2020 Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter Father John Doyle, LC John 16:20-23a 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. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you." Introductory Prayer: Lord, as I begin this prayer, I offer you my whole self: my thoughts, desires, decisions, actions, hopes, fears, weaknesses, failures and petty successes. I open my entire being to you, aware that you know everything already. I’m certain of your mercy and of the purifying power of your penetrating, loving gaze. Petition: Lord, give me great peace and interior joy in the midst of life’s trials. “You Will Weep” Grief is not an agreeable experience in itself. Jesus doesn’t promise his disciples that by following him they will be shielded from the sorrow characteristic of any exile in a foreign land. A Christian’s value system is diametrically opposed to the worldly view. Be honest and the common opinion will consider you backward or naive. Be kind and you will be seen as gullible. Be faithful to the love of your spouse and you will be seen as having repressive tendencies. The list could go on and on. An authentic Christian stands out among the fingers of the world as truly the sorest thumb. Have I accepted this unpleasant and challenging element of Christianity? “I Will See You Again” “Your grief will become joy.” The disciples were surprised and discouraged by Jesus’ crucifixion, but Jesus’ death would not be the final scene in the play. After the dramatic events of Calvary came the joy of the Resurrection, a new and glorious life. How happy the disciples must have been to see Our Lord again! But even then, Jesus seems to play “peek-a-boo” with his disciples. He walks through walls bringing them joy and then he just disappears again. We can have a similar experience in prayer. The alternation of dryness and consolation is an essential part of God’s pedagogy with us. Sometimes it seems that the Lord is right beside us and other times that he is on foreign business. Am I able to exercise my faith in the presence of the Lord beyond the state of my feelings at the moment? “Your Hearts Will Rejoice” Sometimes the charge is leveled against Christianity that its moral prohibitions are a source of sorrow and frustration. A closer look shows a different picture entirely. The closeness of the Lord, along with the recognition that the goods of this world are fundamentally good gifts lavished by the Father upon his children, brings profound joy. When we are able to distinguish the presence and action of the Lord in every created thing and through every circumstance, we experience a joy unknown to the world. “I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” Do I have this joy founded on my faith and the awareness of God’s immense personal love? Does my obedience to the moral law stem from a complete trust in God who desires my happiness? Conversation with Christ: My Jesus, when you are near me, I experience great joy. I know that you are always with me. Help me to exercise my faith and to be able to strengthen the faith of those of my brothers and sisters who need me to show them your love. Resolution: I will offer up any difficulty that the Lord sends me today for those who do not yet have the joy of his friendship. Our Daily Meditation is also available with audio: CLICK HERE TO START LISTENING! FORWARD TO A FRIEND