To live constantly in peace

“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 16: 20-23a)

After feeling the suffering and sadness of Jesus's death on the cross, the apostles experience the joy of seeing him risen among them. The same thing happens to every woman who feels joy upon giving birth to her child despite the severe labor pains felt beforehand. Knowing that Jesus is always with us, we too must learn to live constantly in peace, and not with anguish, during our life’s difficulties. May we always be mindful of this joy.