I Will See You Again

The Lakota language has an optimistic phrase for "good-bye", Ake waciyankint yelo, I'll see you again", leaving a sense of hope and expectation of meeting again to the departing individuals. A smile on the face or in the heart always accompanies these parting words. In today's Gospel passage, Jesus uses the same phrase and then some, "But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy away from you." (Jn 16: 22).  Jesus, knowing human nature, is aware that without his physical presence, the Apostles might be saddened, but he takes the edge off this grieving with these consoling words. We need to hear them too, for our busyness or distractions with non-essentials can distance us without our noticing it at first, until a feeling of being alone hits us.  These periods of "desolation", as St. Ignatius calls them, are meant to stir our hunger and thirst to hear Jesus say, "Don't give up, I'll see you again."
Bro.































 Rene