Jesus said…

‘After a little while you will no longer be able to look at me, and again after a little while  you will see me.’

Then some of  his disciples said to one another ‘What does he mean when he says ‘‘After a little while you will no longer be able to look at me, and again after a little while you will see me,” and ‘Because I go to the Father?’

So they were saying  ‘What is this that he says ‘After a little while?” We do not know what he means.’

Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he  said to them: ’Are you discussing amongst yourselves the meaning of what I said: “After a little while and you will no longer be able to look at me, and again after a little while you will see me?”

Truly, truly I say to you, You will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will be sad, but your sorrow will become joy.”

A woman when she gives birth, has sorrow because her hour has come. When she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a human has been born into the world. 

So now you have sorrow –  but I will see you again, and your hearts will be joyful, and no one will take that joy away from you. 

And on that day you will ask me nothing. 

Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father, in my name, he will give to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy might have a full measure.’

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.