Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent
me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because
I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the
truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the
Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to
you.” John 16:5–7
Jesus continues to speak prophetically to His disciples about the
necessity for Him to go to the Father so that He can send the Holy
Spirit. What’s interesting in this passage is that Jesus points out
to His disciples that “grief” has filled their hearts because of
what He has said to them. Clearly, this grief in their hearts is
because they do not understand what they will soon experience and
do not want their relationship with Jesus to change.
Throughout our lives, our Lord will call us to change. At times, He
calls us away from that with which we are familiar and comfortable,
and He calls us to something new. This can be frightening and can
become the cause of “grief” for us also. To help, let’s consider
this passage above in detail.
Recall that there were many times, prior to Jesus' death, that
Jesus slowly started to reveal to His disciples, especially to the
Twelve, that He would be going to the Father and that He would no
longer be with them in the way He had been. Jesus wanted the Twelve
to begin to understand that their relationship with Him, with the
Father and with the Holy Spirit would soon take on new meaning in
their lives. But the fact that this was something new, a change to
what they had grown accustomed, meant that they were more focused
upon the grief that accompanies loss than they were focused upon
the joy that awaited.
This same experience can often be found in all of our lives. Though
dramatic change is not necessarily a regular occurrence throughout
life, most everyone will experience change at various moments in
life. And when that change occurs in accord with the will of God,
it must be embraced with hope and great expectation.
For example, vocational changes, such as getting married, having
children, or entering a religious vocation, always bring with it
much change—but a change that God can use for much good. Also, the
death of a loved one, a move to a new community, a new job or
school, the establishment of new relationships and the like can be
difficult but also fruitful. Since the Gospel passage above
specifically refers to the change that comes from the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit, it might be helpful to consider the fact that
whenever some new change takes place in our lives, the Holy Spirit
is there, waiting to enter into the new situation in ways we could
have never imagined. So if you find yourself at times experiencing
the grief of some loss, or difficulty with some new endeavor in
life, know that the disciples experienced something similar. But in
the end, Jesus’ words came true—“it is better for you that I go.”
Though they did not want to see Jesus die and then ascend to Heaven
out of their sight, this was part of the plan of God for their
lives. So also when the changes we encounter in life are part of
God’s divine plan, we can be certain that good things await.
Reflect, today, upon anything that our Lord may be asking of you in
regard to a change in your life. Are you open, ready and willing to
do whatever He asks? Or are you fearful or grieved by the thought
of some change. Be open to anything our Lord asks of you and know
that the full embrace of His holy will is the only path to true
happiness in life.
My dear Jesus, You prepared Your disciples for the new life of
grace that they would receive after Your death and Resurrection.
Though fearful and uncertain, they embraced the new life You called
them to live, and You did marvelous things through them. Please
open my heart to the full embrace of my vocation and any changes
that You desire for my life. I say “Yes” to You, my Lord, and pray
that You work powerfully through me by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, I
trust in You.
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