You will weep and mourn as the world rejoices; you will grieve and your grief will turn to joy.
Just prior to the ascension, the disciples could not begin to understand what loss and what joy they would face in the future without Jesus.
My niece, who recently lost her partner at age 30, cannot fathom joy beyond the deep grief she is experiencing now. The city in which I live, in deep turmoil and loss, cannot yet begin to see hope much less delight in the new alternatives and growth already underway.
God shows us how much we can bear. Through the passion of Jesus, we can embrace the passion in our lives.
How has God transformed loss and suffering in my life? How can I support and bring joy to others in my day today?
—Marge Sears is a writer and parishioner at Gesu Parish, Detroit MI.