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.

The gospel writer John in his conversations with Nicodemus, speaks of being born again, and in fact many traditions, and church fathers write about an analogy…, that birth from this life into the next is similar to birth from the womb into this life, and I think that that analogy is apropos to today’s reading. Before we are born we are in darkness, and relatively happy, but when we are born, there is some pain and crying, but when that subsides, we find ourselves in an incredible place, with light and wonders. Things to see, and touch, and taste, the difference is stark and stunning, and even somewhat overwhelming.

As we get older and older, the world becomes smaller, and our understanding of it becomes darker. We sadly grow comfortable in it and we fear or even dread leaving it. But if we die in friendship with God, what awaits us in the next life, is outside of our ability to understand. St Paul, once wrote that “eye has not seen, ear has not heard, and the mind has not contemplated what God has planned for those that love Him.”  There will indeed be pain, and there might be some suffering until you are fully cleansed of your attachment to sin purgatory, but when you enter into His glory, it will be the most incredible thing that you could ever imagine.

This world is very dark indeed and it feels like it is missing something very important, because we are surrounded by suffering and sin on all sides. But we are not as alone as we might think. The Holy Spirit is active everywhere we go, and in every thing we do. The Lord Jesus is available to us in the Eucharist at Mass, and the Father is always listening to our prayers and petitions. But it is important to remember, in this passage, that Jesus is telling us that there will be a time of labor, and suffering, before we are delivered into this new world of joy.

I believe that we are in that time now. The world is very dark indeed, and things have never been so completely out of control. That only means that we need to pray all the more, I pray for this world, and all the people that suffer so much because of choices of others. Persevere, in all trials, and through your faithfullness and suffering you will survive that birth into the new life in heaven with God for all eternity.

Oh lord Please help your people to listen to the image of you that is placed on our hearts. It is only through your grace, and the intervention of the holy spirit that our hearts can be changed. I pray that this happens, soon.