In today's gospel reading we see Jesus preparing His disciples for His coming death and Resurrection and yet they are not able to grasp this fact. "In a short time you will no longer see me, and then in a short time later you will see Me again". This is something like a mother reassuring her child that she will return again after a short absence. Perhaps she will return with a new addition to the family that will bring great joy to them but they can only grasp the immediate reality of loss. Likewise the disciples cannot grasp the fact that Jesus will suffer, die and be raised again. It is too much for them now. Even when it does happen it takes time for them to accept the fact that Jesus said, "I am with you always, until the end of the world."

Sometimes when we ourselves are going through some suffering, some darkness in our lives, it is difficult for us to remember that even then God is with us. Like the saying "Behind every cloud there is a silver lining", we have to turn again to God for reassurance of His promise and claim this for ourselves. Sometimes it is an invitation to turn back to God who is waiting for us. We can indeed identify with the apostles in today's reading.