Reflection for FRIDAY, 6th Week of Easter.
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
Today's Gospel Verses
John 16:20-23
Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Today's Reflection
Christianity would not have spread from where it began to the far distant lands if not for continuous line of men and women who offered themselves for the mission of spreading the Good News.
More than just their efforts to bring Jesus to those who do not know Him, there is also the divine dimension.
God blessed and worked with these missionaries and confirmed their message with signs and wonders.
But it does not mean that being missionaries of the Good News of salvation is going to be smooth and easy and without trouble and danger.
As we heard in the 1st reading, the Lord appeared to St. Paul in a vision to assure him of help and protection.
So even for St. Paul, there were times when he felt tired and discouraged and even frightened, and the Lord came to strengthened him.
For us, we may not be missionaries going to foreign lands, but we are called to be witnesses of the Good News of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
God will help us in our weaknesses when we want to bear witness to our faith by our words and actions.
We also need to pray to the Holy Spirit who is our Advocate and who will work the signs and wonders to confirm our message and our witnessing.
May our hearts be filled with joy of the Holy Spirit as we keep doing the will of God.
GOD BLESS YOU
Good morning. Have a nice safe day.