When they knew that the time was near, Jesus' disciples were filled with grief. In fact, it seems that their grief overshadowed everything else, even to the point of paralyzing them and blinding them to everything else that was going on. We see a glimpse of this reality in the words that Jesus speaks: I am going ... and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' (Jn 16:5).
When we grieve, we too can be blinded to the needs of others, we too can be unaware of anything else, almost as though we are stuck in time, yet even in the midst of their grief, Jesus was ready to offer help to the disciples. If I go, he said, I will send the Advocate to you, which is to say the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit stands beside us to strengthen us and to help us to look beyond our grief. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to overcome the paralysis of grief and to recognize the dawn of a new day, a new reality that offers us hope.
Today, let us pray for the grace to be aware of our own grief. Let us pray for the grace to be aware of the grief that enfolds others, and let us ask for the grace to be aware of the Holy Spirit's presence, standing beside us, ready to take our hands and to help us be aware of the hope that is before our very eyes.
Have a great day.
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