Joy That Endures – Holy Fifty Days – Week 6, Day 7
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen. May the blessing of the Father who calls us and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.
Gospel Reading: John 16:16–22 (NKJV)
“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” (John 16:16, NKJV)
Unseen Yet Present: Christ’s Loving Preparation
Our Lord Jesus, with tenderness and foresight, began to prepare His disciples for His Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension. He spoke not to confuse them, but to comfort them. St. Cyril of Alexandria reflects that Jesus withheld the full revelation of His death for a time, knowing that fear and sorrow would overwhelm their hearts. He chose gentleness over directness, saying only, “A little while, and you will not see Me…”
“He did not say, ‘I will die,’ but gently prepared them… because He foresaw the grief that would overwhelm them.” – St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John, Book 11
In His divine compassion, Christ offered assurance that their sorrow would not last forever. Just as a mother forgets her labor pains when she holds her child, the disciples’ mourning would give birth to a joy that no one could take from them.
Grief Transformed into Joy
Jesus does not deny that His followers will suffer. “You will weep and lament,” He says, “but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” This sorrow, as St. John Chrysostom observes, is not only emotional pain but a spiritual darkness that only the Resurrection could dispel.
“He foretold their sorrow so that when it came, they would not fall away, but endure and find joy in His triumph.” – St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on John 79
The world rejoiced in His death, blind to the mystery of the Cross. But those who knew Him, who loved Him, wept—not just out of loss, but out of love. And to these faithful hearts, Christ returned. He turned their tears into testimony and their pain into proclamation.
Mental Health and the Grief We Carry
In our own lives, we may experience this same cycle of sorrow and joy. Moments of anxiety, confusion, or grief—especially when God seems distant—can overwhelm us. But Christ does not abandon us in our darkness. He teaches us to acknowledge the pain, yet hold on to hope.
Psychologically, anticipatory guidance, like Christ gave His disciples, helps reduce the impact of trauma. Knowing what’s coming—even sorrow—equips the heart to endure. Spiritually, this is called *discernment*: knowing that suffering is not the end, but the passage.
If you are overwhelmed today, say this to your heart: “This too shall pass, and Christ shall meet me on the other side.”
The Joy of the Saints Is Eternal
“The joy of the saints is never cut off, because Christ lives forever.” – St. Cyril of Alexandria
This joy is not a fleeting feeling. It is the fruit of faith in a Risen Savior. Even when Christ ascended, He did not leave His people comfortless. He abides with us through the Holy Spirit. In every liturgy, He is present. In every sorrow, He is near. In every joy, He is the cause.
St. Augustine once wrote:
“He departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him.” – St. Augustine, Sermon 243
So we do not seek Him only in outward signs. We carry Him within. And like the disciples, even when the world mocks or misjudges us, our joy remains, because Christ remains.
Practical Practice: Cultivating Joy in Daily Life
- Anchor Your Day in Prayer: Begin your morning with this verse: “You will see Me again.” Say it aloud, and let it direct your hope.
- Transform Repetition into Worship: Whether cleaning, commuting, or working, say: “This task is my offering to the Risen Lord.”
- Minister to Someone Weeping: Just as Christ saw the sorrow in His disciples and addressed it gently, check on someone who is grieving or anxious.
Final Encouragement
Let not your heart be troubled. Christ said you would weep for a little while, but not forever. Joy comes with the morning. And His morning never ends.
May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds,
that our homes may stand on the Rock,
our hands serve in the harvest,
and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.