Separation or Loss

Scripture/Bible:   But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:5-11

Reflection: When someone leaves us for good or in case of a death or if someone goes abroad for a study then we only think in terms of loss of a beloved or a loved one. Our emotions take control of us and our thinking.

How then will the Disciples, who are emotionally sorrowful and disturbed ask him; “where are you going?” unless they are exhorted to do so by the Lord. At such moments reason doesn’t easily work.  We need to be doing as Jesus desires, because it is right that we should be shifting our gaze rather than keep our gaze on the situation.

If only we would learn to keep our gaze on the right things of life, rather than allow our emotions to take control of us, then a lot of our worries and pain would be less.  Yet it is easier said than done.

Whether it the pain of death or the separation of a loved one or many rejections and neglect that we go through in the daily grind of life the first thing that we do is, and it is as if we have no control over it, our gaze is on the trauma and pain of the separation. It should be rather on the Lord and what he can accomplish in and through it.

How we instead prefer that our lives be filled with sorrow and pain and not allow his wisdom and grace easily. Blessed is the man who knows how to trust the Lord.

How then can we move away from these traumatic moments of life? 

This is where Jesus exhorts us to keep our gaze on him and to trust his words and look to him; it means to tell ourselves that if Jesus is with us, then no matter what the loss, we are going the right place with him. He is going to take us where he is going and where we actually need to go.  What he has in store for us, maybe a little painful, but it will accomplish in us a lasting peace and happiness.

Prayer: “O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!” Ps 34:8

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