Jesus is tender.  He is preparing those around him for his death.  He is preparing them for a time when they will be separated from his bodily presence.   “You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.”  I will die and around you will be rejoicing while you mourn.   It is evident when we meet Mary Magdalene in the John 20:13, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”

There are times we may doubt the existence of God.  There are times we may grow tired of attempting to live a holy life.  There are times we may wonder where God is in the midst of pain and suffering.  There are times that may feel hopeless.  We may experience anguish as a woman in labor.  For those of us who have experienced labor, there is a moment in which the pain begs the question “why did I choose to do this again?”  And once the child is born, we turn to everyone in the room thanking them because the anguish is gone.  The pain has subsided.  The doubts, the exhaustion, even the loneliness in the moment of suffering subsides.  A rush of gratitude takes the place of the pain.

Bonaventure Perquin in his book Abba Father states: “The great act of Thanksgiving for the new Israel is the Mass.  To be united with the sacrifice of the son and his dispositions toward the Father, this alone makes endurable the smallness of our gratitude with what we receive…The sacrifice of old Israel is expressive of gratitude, but this act alone is proportioned to our debt…If a person becomes sensitive, pure, childlike enough to see blessings in all God gives, then there is unceasing desire to say “Blessed be God.”

Today, tomorrow, whenever you attend Mass next, place everything at the offertory and “Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father” for “whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

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