TAIZÉ

Commented Bible Passages

 
These Bible meditations are meant as a way of seeking God in silence and prayer in the midst of our daily life. During the course of a day, take a moment to read the Bible passage with the short commentary and to reflect on the questions which follow. Afterwards, a small group of 3 to 10 people can meet to share what they have discovered and perhaps for a time of prayer.

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2011

August

John 16:16-24: Your Pain Will Turn into Joy
Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:16-24)

It is never easy to say good-bye, especially to someone you love who has given hope and meaning to your life. Jesus announces to his disciples that he must depart. He speaks about his departure as “going to the Father” (Jn16:5,17). Understandably, the disciples are saddened by this announcement and separation. Furthermore, Jesus’ explanation is enigmatic, so they are not only saddened but also confused.

This passage is placed before the passion of Christ, when Jesus tries to prepare his disciples for his death. It was written down, however, after the death of Jesus. John writes to a Christian community which is discouraged. They believe in the message of Jesus; they believe in the resurrection but their announcement of the message has not been accepted. Doesn’t it sound familiar to the situation of the Christian community today? In a secularized and highly technological society, at times it seems as if the message of the gospel has no place.

Jesus does not promise that the external situation of the disciples will change. Just because they decided to follow him does not mean that their lives will be easier. Jesus even says that the world will rejoice when they see them weeping and mourning (v. 20). How, then, does Jesus restore the hope of his disciples?

He does so by inviting his disciples to look at events in a different way. Sadness puts a veil over our eyes and distorts reality. When sorrow invades our hearts, we can be so withdrawn within ourselves that we no longer see what is happening. This leads us to discouragement, which is a powerful enemy. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus reveals to us that although pain, suffering and death are real, they do not have the last word.

In order to make his point, Jesus tells a parable, which speaks about a universal experience, a woman giving birth to a child (v.21). In giving birth, a woman cannot escape the experience of pain. She must experience pain in order to experience joy. In the same way, the cross can be understood only in the light of the resurrection. The resurrection does not erase the cross, but transforms the suffering of the cross into hope, allowing the disciples to believe that in spite of the present pain a future is possible. Jesus is inviting his disciples to see the Easter mystery as the paradigm of the Christian and human experience.

True joy liberates us. False joy is short-lived and can lead to enslavement. To be liberated from their sorrow the disciples need to discover a joy that is just as “startling” as their pain. This joy is not contrived. Like life, it is a gift, given at the most unexpected moments. It is an inner joy that unveils the hope that so often remains hidden. It is the joy from which we draw the generosity to give our lives for others. It is the joy of the resurrection.

- When have I experienced that a situation of pain and sorrow was transformed into joy?

- In my daily life what helps me “opt for joy”?

- How does this option change the way I see my life and events?



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Last updated: 1 March 2024