Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter
(Acts 18:1-8; John 16:16-20)
Jesus’ reference to “a little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me” refers, of course, to his death
and resurrection. Jesus will be buried
for two days and nights during which he cannot be seen. On the third day, he will be raised from the
dead and will show himself that evening to his disciples.
During his burial, the disciples did indeed grieve. They not
only lost a teacher, but also one who loved them so much that he called them
his friends. The grieving turned to joy when
they experienced him alive. Jesus not
only talked with his friends again but gave them the Holy Spirit so that they
may have life in abundance.
As followers of Christ, we sometimes must make hard choices
that cause us to grieve over lost opportunity.
Girls who become pregnant may have to give up a year of college to have
their baby. Boys may find themselves alone
after their parents tell them to leave up the tough crowd they were
following. Such sacrifices should be
embraced, not abhorred. They make us
better people and closer to Christ. He
will greatly reward us for any hardship we endure.
