Memory of the Church

Memorial of the prophet Isaiah.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I am the good shepherd,
my sheep listen to my voice,
and they become
one flock and one fold.
.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 16,16-20

In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again. Then some of his disciples said to one another, 'What does he mean, "In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again," and, "I am going to the Father"? What is this "short time"? We don't know what he means.' Jesus knew that they wanted to question him, so he said, 'You are asking one another what I meant by saying, "In a short time you will no longer see me, and then a short time later you will see me again." 'In all truth I tell you, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

"A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me." The disciples are a bit disorientated by these words, but Jesus, in reality, wants to tell them about his death and resurrection. This is what he means by saying that his being distant will be transformed into closeness much deeper than the physical one they have been living till then. Jesus is talking about his death and resurrection, but before the disciples are overcome with disappointment and discouragement, Jesus wants to explain to them that the painful, wrenching absence that they will experience at his departure from earth to return to the Father is not, in reality, a separation. After his death will come his resurrection. It is the victory of life over death. Such victory will allow to overcome every distance. What matters for the disciples of then and of today, is to continue to seek him and want to be near him. The apostles are distraught by what seems to be a paradox: how can physical distance become even closer proximity? Jesus does not leave this disappointment without an answer. He tells his disciples that the pain and sadness they feel at his departure will become a prayer of invocation, capable of transforming the sadness of distance into the joy of rediscovered proximity. In effect, after Jesus' ascension to the Father, all men and women, in every part of the world, can have the Lord at their side if they call on him in prayer: The Lord will speak to their hearts through his Word, the Eucharist, and the love of the community.