John 16:16-20

Lectio (Reading)

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.”

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

Oratio (Responding)

Jesus said “while the world rejoices; you will grieve.” I cannot think of a better description of the end times. It is said that the world will descend into war, and many will die, but then one man will rise on the world stage and all of the world will be united in peace, under him. This man will be the “antichrist.” The whole world will be materially “happy,” and think mistakely that this false leader is the messiah. But this leader will bring suffering, not joy.

The church, and those that believe in Jesus and the prophecies of this time, will become very small, but will be extremely faithful. This remnant will mourn the state of things, and will be deeply hated by the world, and its new “great” leader. Persecutions, and even martyrdoms will likely happen. But after that time, when the Lord returns and brings justice, we faithfull few will become joyful at the justice of the Lord.

But this teaching also has a meaning for us right now. If today, the world rejoices, it is because it has relied on worldly things. Look at the state of the world, this is one of the most “me-centered” self indulgent generations of all time. This is not something that we should be part of, or even indulge in. We must trust in the Lord and wait for His promises. In that faith and trust is the true happiness that God wants for us, and what I want to wait for.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)