Time is often experienced as truly being “relative”. When we are having a great time with good friends, it seems that our time together “flies,” but when we’re anxiously waiting for news of a loved one’s test results, time seems to stand still. Perhaps that’s how it was for Jesus’ disciples as they contemplated: how long is a while? Where was he going, and when would he return to them? How was he going to accomplish all this? Jesus responded to their confusion by assuring them that their grief would become joy without detailing the when or where.

The miraculous event of Jesus’ death and resurrection probably remained a lifetime mystery for most of his disciples. Even for those who believed and claimed that he was the Christ, it was beyond their human comprehension that a man could be crucified and later be resurrected, completing his mission to redeem the world and prepare an eternal heavenly existence for his followers.

We too live the same mystery as the disciples. We do not know when Jesus Christ will return to earth to judge the living and the dead. We don’t know what heaven will be like. We don’t understand why we sometimes weep and grieve while the world rejoices. But we, just like the disciples with whom Jesus spoke to in today’s Gospel, can be assured that our grief will someday, in some place, be turned to joy. Only through our Christian faith can we, with confidence, look forward to that moment when we will be received into a glorious time and space with our Creator, Redeemer, and Eternal Spirit.

Prayer:

We pray with the words of Saint Peter Julian Eymard: “God calls me now. Tomorrow will be too late.” In our own time and space, may we respond with urgency to build God’s kingdom here on earth, reflecting that blissful paradise that awaits us.