Word to the Wise
Thursday, May 9, 2024 - 6th Week of Easter - Thurs
[Acts 18:1-8 and John 16:16-20]"A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later 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." [John]
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024 THURSDAY IN THE 6TH WEEK OF EASTER
[Acts 18:1-8 and John 16:16-20. These are the scriptures for the weekday. The feast of the Ascension in most of the USA is celebrated next Sunday. A reflection for the Ascension may be found at my website <www.rbwords.com> using the "search" feature in the upper right corner.]
Jesus' words, "a little while," are part of his preparation of the disciples in the Last Supper discourse for what would be coming in the next few hours, but they could describe a bigger picture for Christianity.
Parents know well the demand from a child about WHEN something is going to happen. Even a "little while" to a child can seem like an eternity. Earthly events are subject to the human desire to measure things and pin them down for understanding. Jesus' words speak to the events of the next few days - his arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection and appearances to the disciples. But the "little while" could start with his appearance to the disciples, his gift of the Holy Spirit, his ascension and then leave us to wonder WHEN he is going to come again. Time, when measured, can be both assuring and frustrating. God is not controlled by human clocks.
The "little while" of Holy Week and the "little while" of God's eternal plan come together to remind us that we live between the "tic" of creation and the "toc" of the second coming. Our task is to remain faithful even if we are known to whine: "How long, O Lord?" AMEN