REFLECTION Thursday of the 6th Week in Eastertide
Feast of our Lady of Fatima
TODAY'S WORD
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
John: 16:20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
FIRST READING REFLECTION
St Paul and the other early Christians experienced much persecution and opposition.
Yet, they – being convinced of the Presence of the Lord – gave bold witness to Christ and His Kingdom… “And he argued in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks!” (Acts 18:4)
Surely, life will take us through many experiences of “uncertainties”… We may tend to lose our patience!
We may feel like giving up!
We may want to quit!
But let us turn to the Lord for strength, grace and courage… and listen to Him whispering to us…“Hold on my Child! I am with you… embracing you in my arms!
In Me, your weeping will be changed to rejoicing
In Me, your sorrow will be turned to joy!”
GOSPEL REFLECTION
The Gospel of the Day presents the disciples undergoing “an experience of uncertainty”… and Jesus assuring them with hope and courage.
Jesus told His disciples, “A little while and you will see me no more; again a little while and you will see me” (Jn 16:16)
But these words of Jesus put the disciples into a state of dilemma
They failed to grasp the meaning of the words of Jesus and were confused!
They began to have a discussion on the phrase of Jesus – “a little while”
“What does he mean by ‘a little while'”? (Jn 16: 18)
How long was this “little while” going to be?
How does He define the phrase “a little while”?
If they knew exactly how long this “little while” would last…. then they would have been more courageous and patient
But now the disciples find themselves to be confused and in dilemma.
However, Jesus the Good Shepherd, knew the confusion of His little sheep
Jesus, the Master, knew the perplexity of His simple followers
But He doesn’t define the phrase “a little while”
Jesus defines “a little while” in terms of an experience… an experience of weeping and lamenting turning into rejoicing… an experience of sorrow turning into joy (Jn 16:20)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Is our life today in a state of crisis and confusion?
Is our life today passing through waves of troubles and the deserts of anxiety?
Is our life today moving along the rough terrains of calamities and the valleys of brokenness?
Then the Lord assures us…
… “In a little while” and things will be fine!
… “In a little while” and the sunshine will appear again!
We might complain… How long is this “little while”!
But the Lord invites and challenges us to look to Him, telling us…
Yes, Jesus, through the Gospel wishes to encourage us and strengthen us… in sufferings, to love Him strongly!… in hardships, to trust in Him deeper!… in uncertainties, to depend on Him greater!
RESOLUTION
Let's resolve to trust in the assurance of the Lord: “Fret Not, Faint Not, Fear Not”… be our hope and confidence!
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA
Today is the 104th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady at Fatima.
During this time, many events have happened in the Church and in the world.
Without doubt, there was one crisis after another, and bad news seem to overwhelm the good news.
But where crises and turmoils abound, God's grace and blessings abound all the more.
But that can only be realised when we heed the call to prayer and penance for our sins and the sins of the world.
We have already seen what had happened during the past 100 years.
Let us not wait any longer to pray fervently and do penance for the conversion and the salvation of the world.
GOD BLESS YOU
Have a nice safe day.
Our Lady of Fatima protect you.
HAPPY FEAST