Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Lord God, Heavenly Father, you are not far away from me, for in you I live and move and exist and you live in me through your Holy Spirit. Be indeed with me, Lord, send me your Holy Spirit of truth and through him deepen my understanding of the life and message of your Son, that I may accept the full truth and live by it consistently. I ask this through Christ my Lord.

Reading: John 16:16-20 (NLT)

“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.
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Reflection & Prayer:

Lord Jesus: the very thought of your absence in my life leads me to despair – for in you I live, and move, and have my being. Thank you for sending me your Spirit to be with me forever.

Help me to understand what you mean by “in a little while;” I’m as confused as your first disciples were.

With 20-20 hindsight, I recognize the relative shortness of time between your death, your resurrection, your ascension, and the coming of your Spirit. But here I sit two thousand years later, by human reckoning, waiting for your return in glory. And that seems to be a very long time, especially for those suffering persecution, anguish and sadness with no end in sight.

Fill all your people with your Spirit; renew your presence within us and refresh our trust in you – especially in times of trial, testing, persecution and great suffering. I pray especially for those suffering from the evil of terrorists and the evil states that sponsor and encourage them. Lord, deliver your people from evil.

Lord Jesus: I realize that with you “a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” You and I have a much different perspective on time. Nevertheless, I hold onto your promise that “in a little while” our grief will suddenly turn into wonderful joy and the whole world will rejoice.

Even so, Lord, come quickly!
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“He’s coming again” – Messianic Jewish Singer Joshua Aaron

Asher haya v’hoveh v’yavo | Who was and is and is to come | My Savior came, gave His life for me | And I know He’s coming back to bring me home

I know He’s coming again | I know He’s coming again | Yes, I know | He’s coming again | I know He’s coming again | He’s coming again, He’s coming again

We’ll keep on singing ‘til | He comes again | Then we’ll sing some more | We’ll keep on singing ‘til He comes again | Until we reach the golden shores

We’ll keep on singing ‘til He comes again | Then we’ll sing some more | We’ll keep on singing ‘til He comes again | Then we’ll sing forevermore!
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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 98:3-4 (NLT)

He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!