RFEFLECTIONS TODAY The disciples start mumbling among themselves, asking what Jesus means. To us, it is clear that Jesus is referring to his coming suffering, death, and resurrection. He warns them that they will be “weeping and wailing” while others rejoice. Witnessing the last hours of Jesus will strike their hearts with sorrow and fear. The disciples, though, are not to worry because their sorrows will be turned into joy with the dawn of the resurrection and all that it implies. The disciples, too, will share the passion of Jesus as their hopes turn into empty expectations — only to be revived with the realization that the Master still lives as the Victorious One. As we are disciples of Jesus, our anguish turns into joy when we see its meaning in Jesus. It is helpful to interpret our troubles in the light of his cross and resurrection. Our union with Jesus guarantees joy and peace that this world cannot give. Gospel • John 16:16-20 Jesus said to his disciples: “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks? We do not know what he means.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.