A Little While!

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Acts 18:1-8; Jn 16:16-20

Today’s Gospel highlights the content of Christian truth and invites us to live it out. 

As the chapter ascends toward the culmination of the Farewell Discourse of Jesus (John 13-17), he prepares his disciples for his departure. 

The phrase ‘a little while’ has been repeated seven times, either as a statement or as a question. As such, the phrase prompts our reflection on Jesus’ statements. 

‘A little while and you will no longer see me’ refers to Jesus’ imminent death. ‘A little while later you will see me’ points to his resurrection. 

By his statements, Jesus prepares his disciples to accept sorrow as a precondition to joy. He implies that a willing acceptance of such transition is foundational to Christian life. 

There are important truths behind Jesus’ statements. 

1. The words of Jesus highlight the paradox of the cross. What appears as a defeat (crucifixion) to others is in fact a victory (resurrection) for the believers. 

2. The repetition of the phrase ‘a little while’ means that sorrow is not final, and suffering is only temporary. The promise of joy offers consolation to those who wallow in grief. 

3. In the words of Jesus, the distinction between ‘seeing’ and ‘not seeing’ is not strictly physical. It reminds us of what Paul says in 2 Cor 5:7 – ‘We walk by faith, not by sight.’

Let us pray that we may absorb the Christian truth and live out its meaning in our lives. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar