GOSPEL - Jn 16:20-23
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in peace. Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in peace.
Friday is dedicated to Christ's Passion and His Sacred Heart
Joy – Joy is a lasting happiness. Many times we are asked if we are happy. We can only answer this question at that moment because happiness is temporal, it passes. Joy, however, is an eternal happiness.
What is eternal happiness? Eternal happiness is seeing God and being taken up into God’s happiness. [CCC 1720-1724, 1729]. In God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit there is unending life, joy, and communion. To be taken up into it will be an incomprehensible, infinite happiness for us men. This happiness is the pure gift of God’s grace, for we men can neither bring it about ourselves nor comprehend it in its magnitude. God would like us to decide in favor of our happiness; we should choose God freely, love Him above all things, do good and avoid evil. [1]
[1] YouCat (Youth Catechism); 285