The gift of Jesus
Your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you (John 16, 22)
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.’ (John 16, 20-23a)
Those who follow Jesus might experience moments of sadness, but it will neither be a sterile nor permanent affliction. In fact, pain is transformed into profound joy thanks to the glorious coming of Jesus. A joy that even the shadow of sadness cannot perturb. Have you ever experienced the joy following great pain as a gift from Jesus?
