Word to the Wise
Friday, May 2, 2008 - St. Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the church
[Acts 18:9-18 and John 16:20-23]Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will bcome joy.
The modern day believer is often at a disadvantage in reading the gospel because so much context is taken for granted by the gospel author. This includes not only the cultural context of the target audience, but the context of the characters in the story. Even when the images or allegories or metaphors are familiar, they must be applied to the understanding and context of the reader as well. The image of childbirth in today's gospel is used by Jesus as a metaphor for his death and resurrection and for his departure and second coming! Grief is followed by joy in both cases. The woman's pain in childbirth (epidurals do take some of this context away now) is the grief the apostles feel at the death of Jesus (while his enemies rejoice) but the joy of the child's arrival is the resurrection. The ascension of Jesus is an occasion for grief but his eventual return in the Spirit is the source of joy. The problem is that we weren't there to say goodbye. We're definitely living in view of the Second Coming and we definitely experience the role of the Spirit in the church. But we are somewhat left out of the pain....or are we? There is much in our own lives that may be painful and perhaps the experience makes us think the Lord is absent! Anyone who is able to reassure us brings joy. This can be particularly true when that reassurance takes place in a context of faith and prayer. Try it sometime! AMEN
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