Sorrow to Joy

First Reading: Acts 18:1-8
Psalm: Ps 98:1-4
Gospel: Jn 16:16-20

Friends,

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 16:20

We see a lot of weeping and mourning from those who long for justice and to see the fulfillment of the gospels. There are many who grow frustrated with the state of our world, and each new day seems to bring more bad news.

Our culture (or at least the media in our culture) rejoices over "gay marriage," while Christians grieve for the loss of the real meaning of marriage. Politicians try to portray contraception, abortion and euthanasia as rights due to a civilized society. Christians mourn for those who do not understand that they have turned their back on love. We watch in horror as good men and women are slandered, while criminals are allowed to walk free and are celebrated. So it is and has been in every century and we have no promise that it will get better in this age. Our journey through this world will always be littered with reasons to weep.

However, as Christians, we have hope. We know that the troubles of this world are passing and that we will rise again with joy when Jesus calls us. Our faith is not one of lamenting the difficulties of this life, nor our battles against the evil one, but rejoicing in the saving power of our Lord. In this, we can stand against all storms, if we can but recall that the storm is only fleeting and the dawn is fast approaching. And when the world around you is celebrating the destruction of all that you hold dear, recall that it was the same for the apostles on Good Friday. Our sorrow, like theirs, will be short-lived, and our joy will last forever.

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. We thank you for the glorious gift of hope that you have given to us. We pray that you will remind us to make full use of this virtue in the times when the darkness seems powerful. Grant that we might share this hope with our brothers and sisters who have fallen into despair. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.