Biblical Reflection 113
The Grief of the Disciples (Jn. 16: 16-24)
Jesus speaks of
what will happen in a little while, alluding to His betrayal, crucifixion and
burial (Bede), but also to His resurrection (Augustine).
Suffering is a
time for weeping, the resurrection will be a time for Joy (Dionysius).
The joy which
Christ offers is much more lasting than that of the world. Pains of child birth
bring joy. Jesus implies a mystical sense, that He has removed the birth pangs
of death and caused a new person to be born of them. He not only said that the
pains shall pass away but also that she does not even remember it. So great is
the joy that follows; so also shall it be with the Saints (Chrysostom).
Just as a woman
is glad when a human being has been born into the world, so the Church is
filled with fitting joy when a multitude of the faithful are born into the life
to come. Hence Church practice has been that the day on which blessed martyrs
or confessors of Christ departed from the world we call their birth day, and
their solemn festival is not spoken of as their funeral but as their birth day
(Bede).
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