A MULTI FACETED TRUTH

A little while and ye shall not see me; and again a little while and ye shall see me.

During Lent, and especially in Holy Week, we were reminded of the truth that before the glory came the shame and the agony of the Cross. That was true for our Lord and it is true for us who follow Him. In some way or another during this life we will be presented with a cross and how we respond to that cross will be a matter of concern before the judgment seat.

It is a grave, but all too common error to imagine that we can by-pass the trials and go straight to the joy. The servant is not greater than the master and the Master, Jesus Christ, suffered great trials for our sakes. Those of you who heard Bishop Wilkinson’s Good Friday sermon will have been left in no doubt about that point!

Today, in the Gospel according to St. John, we encountered another truth which seems to have similarities to the one I just mentioned. But it is actually a multi faceted truth which greatly puzzled the disciples when they first heard it.

A little while and ye shall not see me, speaks to us of the tomb, where Jesus was indeed hidden from view for three days. During that time the disciples were in misery at the loss of their Lord, Master and great friend.

Then came the Resurrection and their misery turned to joy.

These events speak to the actual physical seeing of Jesus, but there is also a very spiritual facet to them.

Even before the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples began to change inside, change brought about by the teachings of Jesus and especially by their growing understanding of His truths.

It is no different with us. We will meet Jesus many times in this life, through the Holy Scriptures, for example. But each such meeting may give us little more than a glimpse of His passing shadow.

Later, through the Grace of God, the second part of this so comforting truth, And again a little while and ye shall see me, may come to pass for us. Christ’s fleeting shadow will solidify a little and become less transient. That is at least one reason why Holy Scripture must be read and read again.

That is also the nature of the Christian journey through this vale of tears. And it is true not just of our study of Scripture.

There will be times when we feel the closeness of Jesus as it pleases Him to make Himself known to us. Then, for His own reasons, He may withdraw and we will seem to be alone. When Jesus does that, it is for our benefit; for our sanctification. It is for the strengthening or our faith. Our sorrow is the preparation for joy, because He promises, Again a little while and ye shall see me.

If we have faith and sincerely believe His promises, we will see that separation from Him does nothing less than reveal our great need for Him. As such it is the prelude to fuller communion.

And there we are led to a yet deeper meaning in Christ’s words. The first part, A little while and ye shall not see me, refers to this life. Our knowledge of Him is so incomplete and our vision of Him is so foggy.

The second part, Again a little while and ye shall see me, carries all the glorious hope of the Resurrection and refers to the next life.

No one expresses that better than Jesus. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Peter Jardine+

Easter III, 2006