Jesus said, “I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them.
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:1-15
Throughout my life, I have found that leave taking is so very hard and so very necessary. To move on we must let go of the past chapter and fully face the new one. If we linger in what was, we don't find the new jounrey. Like a sailboat on the water, we must turn and find the wind. We set sail for new and uncharted ways, feeling isolated and helpless, yet knowing we are never alone.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples about his impending passion and death. Life will not be like it was. They will have to chart a new way forward. They don't want to, as we don't want to, ever. When we humans have found a comfortable life, we do not want anything to disturb it. Yet Jesus invites us in this Easter week, to welcome with joy the changes we face. For we will be given the strength that we need and will delight in new horizons.
Today, I ask God to help me face the changes and new horizons ahead with joy. May we lean in to the new, trusting God will provide a new measure of spirit and strength for the journey ahead in the way of love.
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